Winter had reached the peaks. Autumn wasn’t quite ready to leave the valley.
I photographed this near Ridgway, Colorado, as first light reached Mount Sneffels after fresh morning snow. Below the mountain, the aspens were still holding on to their fall color.
That was what pulled me in. Snow on the peaks, warmth in the valley, and calm water reflecting them both. Two seasons sharing the same landscape for a little while.
The air was quiet. The light was soft. Before the day got going, there was this brief moment when everything felt still.
You can visit the same place again. Catching it like this is another thing. A little more snow, a little less color, a breeze across the water, and you’re looking at a different photograph.
Break of Dawn is about that short window in the San Juans, when autumn is still holding on and winter is already settling in.
I’m glad I was there while they overlapped.