The Smokies

I took this photo in August of 2020. It was our first time really getting out since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, which still weighed heavily on us. We were still social distancing, sleeping in a tent, trying to explore areas away from people. We made the decision, however, to drive up to the top of Kuwohi (a very popular location in the park) for sunset, knowing that we would inevitably be around more people than we were comfortable with.

I am an introvert. I’d much prefer to spend my time with the camera wandering alone. But this night was different. After 5 months of almost no real social interaction, it wasn’t the magical sunset that had the most profound impact on me. It was the people. There wasn’t much social interaction on this occasion, either; rather just existing in the presence of others who were witnessing the same beauty, collectively. That brief moment provided us respite from the chaos and uncertainty of world turned upside down.

Looking at the photos from that evening always brings me the same sense of calm in a chaotic world.