Autumn foliage is not often associated with the desert. But the high desert of Sedona, Arizona, is peppered with oak and maple trees that turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Paired with the natural red, iron-soaked rocks, the landscape comes alive in November.
There is a moment, just before the sun fully sets, when the rocks take on an alpenglow. It’s a surprising moment, because the sun has long sunk below the ridge when you are 4,000 feet above sea level, as you are in Sedona. But for a brief minute, as the sun sinks below the horizon at sea level nearly a mile below, the rocks light on fire. I created this image during this moment, as the shadows quickly enveloped the glowing foliage and the red rocks glowed.
