I mentioned a few weeks ago that I love photographing in the fog, and on this particular morning back in the Spring, it was HEAVY fog for sure. It was one of those mornings that you could almost look right at the sun because it was so thick. However, as we stood there, it started to thin out and suddenly just turned orange! I couldn’t help but think of the imagery of Sauron from the Lord of the Rings as I stood there looking at “the Tree” in Cades Cove, back lit by the rising sun. I even asked my friend who was with me, “Are we in Mordor???”… I’m not sure he caught the reference.

Anyway, I love the imagery of the rising sun, especially as we’ve just entered a new year. The idea of a new day, a new beginning, a fresh start. I hope you all had a wonderful New Year and that you are blessed in 2016!

–Dan Thompson