Fall Aspens

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I ventured up to Flagstaff to get some photos of the aspens changing colors. Part of the reason we made this trip when we did is due to the fact that the aspens around Flagstaff are dying at a rather speedy rate and no one knows why. Needless to say the trip was worth it.

To get that beautiful morning light, we left Phoenix around 4 am. When we arrived in Flagstaff the sun was just breaking over the horizon. We decided to drive up Hart Prairie Road as it is a popular fall foliage drive. That it was.

After our first stop we made our way up further along the road to a clearing that was bordered by aspens. It was here that I found myself overwhelmed by the colors. As my wife wandered through the trees with our dog, all I could do was snap away and look for the next photo to take.

As the sun crawled higher into the sky I knew that my shooting was nearing an end. As I packed up and walked back to our car, I noticed a walkway tucked between several aspens and knew this would be my last shot of the day. To my surprise, it wasn't. As we neared the end of the forest road, we came across a group of 10 or so deer. I stopped, jumped out of the car and moved along the road following the group taking several pictures. Once the hunters appeared behind us however, I knew my time in that place had neared an end.