Carl Heilman II is an internationally published photographer and author who has explored the Blue Ridge Mountain region for the past forty years. His work has been published in national and regional magazines such as Outside, National Geographic Explorer, the New York Times, and Nature Conservancy, and presented as shows on PBS. Since 1953, the nonprofit Great Smoky Mountains Association has supported the preservation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by promoting greater public understanding and appreciation through education, interpretation, and research.