I was out early to catch fall colours during sunrise at a favourite location about an hour's drive southwest of Calgary. After taking some wide-angle shots of the sun starting to hit the Rocky Mountains peaks in the distance, I noticed the rising sun hitting different parts of the landscape right before me. A zoomed, more intimate shot was in order.

The double S-bend in a valley bottom is a classic photo location in this provincial park. As I watched the light develop, the trees near the valley bottom started to light up while adjacent trees and the road remained in the shade, giving a real 3-D pop to the colours.

It didn't last very long, but it was definitely a decisive moment and my favourite shot of the day.