Took several trips up to the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Linn Cove Viaduct last week.  This photo was taken on the 12th.  The previous day was clear blue bright (awful) skies.  So I was very happy to see clouds on this morning.  Took a different composition here than the typical viaduct photo.  I actually missed the traditional vantage point.  We arrived pretty early to photograph the viaduct.  Unfortunately, there was another "photographer" on the rock perch needed to take the photo.  He just stayed and stayed hogging the rock while my friend and I tried to patiently wait.  All the while thinking the clouds could be short lived. I'm all for "he was there first" but when there is only one spot to photograph from, don't hog the spot for too long.  The irritating thing is that he wasn't even shooting.  He was just sitting there!!

Well he finally left and my friend got to the spot first and got his shots and then it was my turn.  So just when I was about to click the shutter, guess what?  Yeah, the other guy decided to position himself right on the viaduct clearly in my composition.  Now I claimed, "I was there first" and he knew I was there.  Now remember the light and clouds could be changing at any minute so I was getting impatient.  Finally, he filled up his SD card and left.  Alas, I can get my shots finally.  Amen.  That didn't last long and he reappears with a fresh SD card.  But now he proceeds even further on the viaduct.  OK, I finally had it and yelled out to him that he was in my shot (with a "friendly tone" of course).  He continued to shoot.  Finally, he left and said something I couldn't hear.  Really?

So I was racing to get some shots since the clouds in the other direction opened up and had beautiful sun rays from heaven shining through.  So in my impatience and hurrying, I forgot to take any photos in landscape orientation.  AGGGHHH!  Of course, I didn't realize it until I was home and uploaded my photos to my computer.

So please fellow photographers, be aware of others shooting around you and work together to get all the shots everyone wants.  Share the scene.

Changing topics, the colors north on the Parkway around the viaduct and Rough Ridge are well past peak.  I took a drive to the western part of NC taking US64 west from Asheville.  Surprisingly, there wasn't much color at all.  Dry Falls had some and seemed to be fading.  Cullasaja Falls was all green.  Going further into the Smokys we were greeted with green foliage with just a hint that changes were coming.  So if you'll be in the area of the Smokys, colors should be good mid to late next week.  I'll be there for sure.

Happy Shooting!

Linn Cove Viaduct - October 2017