A few days after Leah and Andrew exchanged vows, we found ourselves on the Blue Ridge Parkway, wrapped in unexpected fog and rain. The fog wound its way through the tall pines with a hushed authority, swallowing the views and ensconcing the mountains in quiet mystery. Rain came and went in waves, wind battering the trees until the last rust-colored leaves surrendered and floated to the forest floor. It was wild, moody, and breathtaking.

We had planned to hike. Instead, we let the weather redirect us. We wandered through the woods, drove stretches of the Parkway where the fog sat heavy, and found refuge beside a roaring waterfall.

This wasn’t a typical Blue Ridge Parkway session, but it turned into something memorable. The weather may have shifted our plans, but it gave us a setting that was rich with texture and mood. It was a great reminder that sometimes the best images are made when everything is unpredictable.