A couple of weeks ago I had a bad weekend. Everything hit me at once, all that has gone on. So much loss, so much to come. I was alone that day sitting at the house unable to escape my own head. So I grabbed my camera, hopped in the car and drove to the desert. One of my favorite destinations close to home, and I hiked on what was one of the most beautiful fall afternoons. At the end of the day I was leaving the waterfall and carefully stepping across stones in order to reach dry ground when a brightness caught my eye. I turned and looked at the water. At that particular time of day the light was hitting the orange and gold leaves of the trees in such a way that they cast the most beautiful reflection on the water. I couldn't believe it, and so I sat there for another 45 min taking photos of the golden reflections in the water as the light changed and eventually faded. In the process I met a really nice couple that asked me what I was taking photos of and then chatted with me for some time while I pet their dogs. It started out a bad day but ended well. This last photo is one I caught at the end of the day and a constant reminder to me that the only true calm and beauty I find in all the chaos at times is when I'm alone in the natural world.
