The Maroon Bells near Aspen are photographed constantly, which means you have to find a reason to add another frame to the pile. I went in autumn when the aspens on the slopes above Maroon Lake were turning, hoping for a morning when the peaks would catch first light while the valley was still in shadow. Nature rarely checks my itinerary, but this time the forecast was almost right.Clouds held on the peaks long enough to catch fire: rose and gold on the stone while the lake and forest stayed cool and dark. The Castles, as the summits are sometimes called, lived up to their name. I worked from the classic shoreline position and waited for a breeze to settle so the reflection would hold. Colorado fall is competitive. Every photographer knows this view. I still felt the pull of the light when it arrived, and that is usually enough reason to keep the file.
