Linn Cove Viaduct | Blue Ridge Parkway | North Carolina - Now Available in the Print Store!!

Emily and I decided to take the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way back to Boone on Saturday. As we neared the Viaduct we noticed the stars were shining so we stopped for a little photo adventure. I wanted that quintessential view of the Viaduct at night. You know the shot- every photographer in the High Country has photographed it. Heck, I've photographed the Viaduct from this vantage point quite a few times. I can't say I've seen too many night images of it, though.

So, Emily and I climbed the rocks and got comfortable. She practiced Morse Code with her flashlight (accidentally waving down a Parkway Ranger who thought we were in trouble in the process. Whoops!) while I dialed in my settings. The moon (which was 87% full) hadn't crested the ridge quite yet so it took a while to getting everything set. I couldn't quite get my exposure how I liked it. But, then a car passed during a 30-second exposure and BAM! The Parkway was perfectly lit. So, we started playing the waiting game. Whenever a car would approach Emily would say, "Wait for it.... Now!" and I would click the shutter. The trails of headlights and taillights was pretty sweet, but I felt like something was still missing. Then, the moon crested the ridge behind us and double BAM! It illuminated the Viaduct and surrounding landscape perfectly. With the moon above the ridge and the headlights on the roadway, things came together quite nicely.

What you are seeing here is the Linn Cove Viaduct and surrounding landscape illuminated by an almost full moon, the Blue Ridge Parkway illuminated by a passing car, and the horizon with Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountain illuminated by light pollution. I removed a stray branch from the frame, but other than that did no other edits. I think I might retire from photography now.