White River National Forest 
Colorado, USA 

THE MAROON BELLS IS A CHALLENGING PLACE TO PHOTOGRAPH. THE VALLEY IS A WIND TUNNEL AND CONSTANTLY INFLUENCES HOW THE WEATHER REACTS. THIS PHOTO WAS 4 YEARS IN THE MAKING. THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS I NEEDED TO LINE UP FOR THIS PHOTOGRAPH: LIGHT, WEATHER, REFLECTION, SNOW, AND FALL COLOR. REMOVE ONE OF THOSE ELEMENTS, AND I KNEW IT WASN’T THE SCENE I HAD ENVISIONED. THE PREVIOUS 3 YEARS AT LEAST ONE OF THESE WAS MISSING AND IT JUST FELT EMPTY. WHEN I ARRIVED THE DAY BEFORE, I ALMOST TURNED HOME DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO SNOW ON THE PEAK. MY WIFE WAS ADAMANT ABOUT STAYING AND I AM GLAD WE DID. IT RAINED THAT ENTIRE EVENING AND MORNING, ULTIMATELY REVEALING THE IMAGE I HAD BEEN WAITING FOR.