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13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Morning Clouds on Mount Moran

Coming into Grand Teton National Park for the first time, I was in awe as I marveled the pristine beauty of this national treasure. The morning was cool, crisp, and the skies were as blue as could be. At the advice of a ranger, we ventured to the top of Signal Mountain to admire the views from that perspective. My mother-in-law was disappointed by the clouds that hovered the mountains. However, I felt they added a layer of grandeur to these sky-scraping beauties. This photo represents everything I immediately loved about the park: Mount Moran stands as a beacon against the deep blue Jackson Lake while evergreens provide a forest canopy whose aroma is intoxicating. Every time I reflect on this photograph my heart races in remembrance of a place I long to visit again.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2015
Date Uploaded: 06.2015
Photo Location: Jackson, Wyoming, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D3300
Copyright: © Mandy Hawkins