The Gateway to Solitude

The Gateway to SolitudeBright white aspen trunks are surrounded by golden leaves near the Dyke Trail below the Raggeds Wilderness Area in western Colorado.

I love photographing aspen trees. Even though they're clones and supposedly genetically identical, they can be very different from other trees not very far away. Some aspen trees have grey or greenish trunks, some are bright white. I'm not sure why.

This particular grove of trees is one of my very favorite to photograph because the trunks are tall, straight, and bright white. These subjects also occupy a hillside below one of Colorado's most photographed autumn locations, the Ruby Range along Kebler Pass Road. I have captured many images of the Ruby Range and the dike formation in all seasons, but I also enjoy discovering more intimate landscapes within the larger views.

I prefer to photograph aspen trees in bright, diffused light like I find on overcast fall days. To my eyes, direct sunlight creates too much contrast and distracting shadows that hide the natural beauty of the forest and the individual trees. This soft light accentuates the white tree trunks and helps to saturate the color in the golden leaves and understory. This soft light also helps create a quiet, intimate feel to the scene. While the diffused, overcast light creates an intimate feeling in a small landscape, it has the opposite effect on a grander landscape featuring a lot of sky. As one of my mentors, Alan Rokach, said, "The best light for photography is the light you have." Thankfully, this landscape is close enough to my home that I get to visit it in many different light conditions.

I hope you enjoy "The Gateway to Solitude".