Maryville City Building, Great Smoky Mountains, Maryville, TN, Tennessee

What beauty is captured in the silence of a city just waking?

As the first rays of the sun kissed the horizon, I stood with my drone controller in hand, ready to capture the Maryville City Municipal Building in all its dawn glory. The air was crisp, the kind of coolness that whispers of fall’s approach. As the drone lifted into the air, its hum was the only sound breaking the quiet, save for the occasional bird call. The red brick building below stood as a symbol of strength and history, illuminated softly by the golden light creeping over the Great Smoky Mountains in the distance.

Photographing with a drone at sunrise is an entirely different challenge. The shifting light can change the mood and tone of the image in mere seconds, and every angle must be calculated with precision. The added complexity of capturing the sprawling structure from above while ensuring the majestic Smokies were framed perfectly in the background was a test of both patience and skill. Yet, in those moments, when the drone hovered silently and the scene came together, there was magic—a blend of architecture, nature, and history frozen in time.

Maryville, established in 1795, has always been a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, and its history is intertwined with the natural beauty surrounding it. From this aerial view, I could see how the building mirrored the mountains—its solid structure set against the backdrop of rolling, mist-covered peaks. The history of Maryville, with its deep roots in Tennessee’s development, was not lost on me. The municipal building, though modern by comparison, felt like a testament to the town’s enduring spirit.

As the sun rose higher, bathing the landscape in full morning light, I captured the final shots. There, from above, with the Smokies watching over the town, the essence of Maryville came alive—a harmonious blend of the old and the new, the man-made and the natural world. It was in those quiet moments of morning solitude, with my drone hovering in the sky, that I felt connected to both the history and the future of this remarkable place.

1) Since we create each piece of our custom fine art specifically for you, we don't offer returns. Every image is made-to-order, making it unique and personal. But we want you to love your artwork! If it arrives damaged or there's a problem with it, we'll gladly exchange it or send you a replacement to make things right.

2) The artist's signature on each piece of our fine art, placed in the bottom corner, authenticates the work as a unique creation and adds a personal touch.

3.1) Only framed paper prints, acrylics and aluminum/metal prints will have a 2" white mat border.
3.2) Canvas prints will be a flush mounted (no mat border) to the frame.