This photograph, Reflections of Tranquility, was made in Yosemite Valley on the morning of the spring equinox—a day when light and dark find balance and winter quietly gives way to spring.

I arrived early, walking along the valley floor as the sun began to rise. There was a sense of stillness in the air—the kind that invites you to slow down and really see. That's when I noticed a small puddle beneath a leafless tree, perfectly still and catching the soft light just right. In it, the bare limbs were mirrored with stunning clarity. Nothing moved. It was a fleeting, quiet moment, and I knew it wouldn't last long.

This image isn't about grand vistas or dramatic skies—it's about subtlety—the kind of beauty that hides in plain sight and reveals itself only when we're paying attention. The puddle becomes more than a foreground element here—it's the soul of the photograph. It reflects not only the tree above but the mood of the season itself: peaceful, balanced, and full of quiet promise.

Technically, I used a standard lens and a low perspective to keep the composition simple and intimate. There were no filters or tricks—just light, reflection, and timing.

As a photographer, I'm always drawn to moments like this—where nature whispers instead of shouts. My hope is that the viewer feels the same stillness I felt when I pressed the shutter—a sense of calm, a breath, a reminder that spring often begins not with a bloom but with a reflection.