Leaves Studied Thurther

I just couldn't be happy with the quick snap shots
taken out of the window of the car towards the end of 

our alpine loop drive so I had to make it out again, and

 allow myself time to study and time to properly photograph

 the color that inspired me so much.

So I went out again the next day, during the snow
storm. I was worried what the storm would do but....
it actually made everything much much better!
The moisture made the rocks, soil, and bark rich blacks,

and mixed with the diffused lighting from all the cloud

cover, the leaves just popped. They simply glowed.

Then the light dusting of snow was like a visual

"sugar on top" on the whole day. Clean, feathery, and

white yet the leaves weren't weighted down and 

squashed yet by their newly added layer of snow. 

Beautiful. Definitely worth the extra trip.

The images still make me a little giddy.