I’ve been up to some more landscape photography lately.  In an effort to chase down all the autumn leaves I can get this year, I managed to stumble into something else.  I found layers of color which I barely had enough time to capture before the moment ended.  Here’s the story of how I captured this latest landscape photo for my portfolio.

The first time I visited Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah, it was dark.  I couldn’t see a thing.  I vowed to return VERY soon and see the place for myself.  So, I returned the next day and surveyed my options as a landscape photographer.  I was pleased and I wanted more.

I noticed landscape layers receding off into the distance from one of the viewpoints.  That stuck in my mind.  I wanted to capture those layers with the perfect lighting.  So, I kept chasing that.  However, I haven’t yet managed to capture that photo I’m seeking.  Still, I think I got very close with this shot.

I decided to try autumn leaves from the monument as the road leading up to is was full of seasonal layers of color.  It seemed like a good idea.  I had no idea what I was walking into but I was glad I was prepared.  I arrived in the middle of golden hour at sunset with heavy clouds overhead.  Thanks to this fact, I couldn’t be sure how things were going to work out.  However, when I arrived at my chosen viewpoint, the light in front of me was perfect.

I noticed the light falling about how I envisioned on the distant layers of landscape.  There were also layers of color throughout the scene.  I took a few quick shots to test things and make sure I captured something.  Then I settled into the business of getting just the shot I wanted.  No sooner had I started breaking out more equipment than the light changed with the setting sun.  The sun dropped further below the cloud line and the quality of light shifted away from the dreamy version I had just captured.  I knew I did the right thing with those quick test shots.

I learned my lesson years ago.  Take the shot just in case that’s my only window to capture it.  Then try for something more “professional” after I capture SOMETHING.  That lesson still pays in dividends with times like this.  So, what do you think of these layers of color in the landscape?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below.