Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A Break in the Clouds in the Shining Rock Wilderness

In the afternoon of June 7, 2023 in the Shining Rock Wilderness of Western North Carolina the cloud cover was heavy, there was a drizzle of rain, and temperatures were very chilly. Suddenly, a gap in the clouds let a strong beam of sunlight fall through to the receding mountains, as viewed from Ivestor Gap.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2023
Date Uploaded: 10.2024
Photo Location: North Carolina, United States of America
Copyright: © Erik Hogan