These trees were in a beautiful area that Ruth and I discovered near the Grand Mesa area of Colorado. Even though we'd been photographing in this area off and on since 1987, we had overlooked a wonderful, steep and winding dirt road that led up this side of the mountain. We arrived that fall at the absolute perfect time; with peak leaves and several days of calm, perfect weather.

This grove of trees was growing on the edge of the steep mountain and is lit with full, afternoon sunlight, while the warm, nutlike fragrance of the aspen leaves filled the air. There was enough fill light illuminating the shadows to make the image work, which was coming from the aspen forest behind me. To avoid keystoning the trees, (which causes the trees to tilt inwards), I used the rising front on my 8x10" camera to it's maximum amount. I usually use the rising or falling front on the view camera even when keystoning would not be obvious, as it gives an image that looks better to me.

The elements of this photograph have an unusual, abstract quality about them that reminds me of the small planet in "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint Exupery. I fondly remembered that story on that sunlit day, as I carefully composed the image on the ground glass. On the exhibition print, the visual weight of the unique turquoise sky is balanced with the golden aspen leaves, which helps give this print a stately, peaceful, harmoniously complete feeling.