Autumn reflection of Grand Teton in the lake #1 by Edwin Mooijaart

Grand Teton is one of those parks that as a photographer you simply have to experience. But that does not mean it is easy: you have to rise early, find the right spot, and then have the luck of mirror-calm water at the very moment the sun touches the peaks. On this morning we had that luck. I stood at the water's edge and took in the scene: a large rounded stone lay half-submerged directly in front of me, the perfect foreground element for the reflection stretching behind it. The golden aspens and dark green spruces along the bank mirrored in the still water like a perfectly painted scene. The mountain peak above was just being caught by the morning light and beginning to warm into gold. I chose a vertical format to include both the stone in the foreground and the mountain range above. The result is an image that feels almost symmetrical, yet has enough variation in texture and colour to stay alive. This is photography where patience is rewarded: those who rise early and stand at the water at the right moment make photographs like this. This work looks best as a large format print in a living room or meeting room with a calm, natural interior.