It has become rather difficult to do much artistic landscape work in the Smokies during icy and snowy weather events because the Park’s roads are often closed. It’s probably more a matter of maintenance costs than anything, although safety is certainly a large factor. Either way, it is an occasion for excitement when I find myself on the inside and there is snow or frost on the trees. Such was the case a couple of Februarys ago as I came up Newfound Gap Road above Chimneytops Trailhead and entered a fairyland of lacy white growing out of the green lushness of rhododendron and mountain laurel. A line of leafless birches made for an interesting foreground in an abstracted forest. A focal length of 66mm allowed me to isolate a small section of the larger whole and create an intimate landscape of frosty hardwoods. An aperture of f/16 allowed for depth-of-field; and a shutter speed of 0.8 seconds at ISO 100 gave me an overall medium exposure. A day of frost in the Smokies is a fine day indeed.