Anatomy of a Composition - An Eastern Edge

I first found this scene on a motorcycle. It was an absolute surprise, a highlight of what ended four days riding and camping around Colorado. Having lived in the state for 16 years at that point (the initial visit was the fall of 2014) I hadn’t really experienced a fall in the mountains since that initial year. A local motorcycle group had organized a multi-day ride through the high country to take in the fall colors, and even without “real” camera this was an adventure I didn’t want to pass up on.

The inspiration that initial trip sparked has played out through today. Not only was passion in motorcycling cemented, but my interest in photography grew directly out of that experience. This stretch, from the eastern edge of the Grand Mesa, along Kebler Pass and through Crested Butte changed how I would appreciate and view my adopted home. The ensuing years have taken me back to these destinations over and over and each year, while the seasons each offer their own unique views, the comfort of the consistent scenery truly feel like a home coming.

It’s easier to approach these images from the pack of my 4Runner. As much as I love being on two wheels, the room and routine I can create while traveling with four-wheels allows its own comfort and meditation. Images like this make more sense, and the light becomes the focus. The aspens create their own canvas in the vast, intoxicating landscape.

Eastern Edge - Sony a7iv - ISO 160 | F/2.8 | 1/100 sec ~ 50mm 10 image Panorama