Autumn in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains is a season of remarkable contrasts: brilliant gold against weathered stone, warm sunlight against cool mountain shadows, and the unmistakable feeling that change is in the air.
While exploring the San Juans during the height of autumn, I came upon a stand of golden aspens set against a dramatic backdrop of rugged mountain peaks. What initially caught my attention was the brilliant color of the trees, but as I studied the scene, it was the interplay of light and shadow that held me there.
Sunlight moved across the landscape, illuminating the aspens and portions of the distant ridgeline, while much of the forest remained in shadow. Above the peaks, gathering clouds added another dimension to the scene, reinforcing the sense of a landscape in transition.
What I find most compelling about autumn is not simply its color, but its fleeting nature. There is a certain tension between the warmth of the season’s final display and the knowledge that winter is not far behind.
For me, “Between Seasons” captures that brief moment when autumn is still holding on, even as the mountains begin to suggest what comes next.
