Tips | Opportunities

Photography may be the most common activity along the Parkway. For the visitor who wants a snapshot or the professional building a portfolio, here are some hints from folks who see the Parkway everyday, all year round.

Photography Tips

There is no such thing as bad weather:

Heavy snow, fog clinging to the mountainside or raindrops decorating a dogwood blossom are all beautiful, but you will never see them if you wait for warm, sunny weather.

Be outdoors at dusk and dawn:

Not only do the mountains look their best in the warm, golden light of dusk or dawn, but the long shadows add extra texture and contrast. Besides, the twilight hours are the best time to see wildlife.

Look everywhere:

Do not limit yourself to just one way of seeing the park. Take a moment to look at the mountain views, then another moment to recognize the trees and ridges that shape the mountain. Finally take another moment to study a single tree, deer or wildflower. The Parkway's beauty is many layers deep.

Keep the camera handy

Photography is literally a picture drawn with light, and the light can change in an instant. Keep your camera nearby to catch those rare moments when the light and the land take your breath away.

NOTE:

Commercial photography on the Parkway may require a special permit available from Parkway headquarters. NPS policy prohibits the use of recognizable locations for commercial advertising, or any photo activity that disturbs other visitors, without written authorization from the Superintendent.

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Opportunities

• Big Spy
• Peaks of Otter
• Cahas Knob
• Mabry Mill
• Linville Falls
• Craggy Gardens
• Waterrock Knob

Blue Ridge Parkway Postcards - Be sure to send your images in to us for submission into our online postcards submitted section. You can show off your work to everyone in the world! Click here for postcards...
(http://www.virtualblueridge.com/postcards/index.htm)

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