The breathtaking bloom in the natural rhododendron gardens on Roan Mountain draw thousands of photographers and nature enthusiasts every June, and it is an annual date on my photographic calendar. At over 6,200 feet, weather in the gardens can be completely different than a photographer's home, often a few thousand feet lower in elevation. On the morning I made this shot, one of my all time favorites, I left home in the pre-dawn to skies with a few high clouds and even some visible stars. On top of Roan Mountain, however, there was heavy mist and fog, with lingering moisture from light rains that fell the night before. Such conditions are horrible if the photographer's goal is what I call "grandscapes," the classic wide angle scenic shots. But if the goal is close-ups and macro images, the soft light is wonderful, as it eliminates harsh shadows and contrast. It was just that light that made this shot possible, allowing me to capture the full glory of the rhodo blossom, dripping with water droplets that remained from the night before.