This capture was in my mind, and I actively worked on it since 2009. Back in the days when I when I had a loaner system from Nikon, I attempted my first images from this location. It required a LONG time for the right-side of my brains to come up with stunning image, all the way to late 2020. There were other possibilities, but I remember becoming aware of these aspens in the spring of 2015. I conceived of various compositions and lighting contingencies and made many attempts in the last five years. I worked the theme in the spring of 2015, and again in the summers, and made attempts the autumns of 2017 and 2019. Without snow in autumn, and after a recent snowfall too. All were good – but they did not have that “special extra” of my portfolio images. Eventually in the early winter of 2020, I found success. The first substantial storm with a few inches of snow, the road was not closed yet, a strong reflection a nearby snow covered slope. All these things were key to success. And my post-processing had advanced enough to handle an extremely high contrast scene too. I am quite happy with this image.
