As autumn began, I initially feared, with the extreme drought over much of the region, that the aspens would go straight to brown. And at the start of autumn, some aspens did exactly that, so when I found areas that were brilliantly colored, I was pretty happy. Today, October 3rd, which is also my wife’s birthday, most of the color is finished for the season though there are a few patches of colorful trees that can still be found. The location photographed above is a favorite spot not only because of the mountain background but because of the shadows and contrast that make the aspens really glow. When I can, I shoot these scenes handheld so I can work quickly and find new compositions.