For the 30 years of my career as a stage lighting designer, I have hit my longest and hardest stretch of the year around the first week of October. I produced and designed a production for the University that celebrated the school's heritage and coincided with the annual Homecoming festivities. It was a challenging project and highly rewarding as a professional endeavor. It didn't come without sacrifice however. As I rode my bike to work each day I'd see the hills and mountains around our valley transition into their magnificent autumnal glory. There was nothing I could do but enjoy those few glances as I peddled my way back and forth to work. I longed to be hiking within the Lothlorien forests and photographing each tree, bush, and leaf.

Last year, I finally realized that I had little left within me to offer on this particular project and that it was time to turn it over to younger creative minds. And so I resigned. I still have work to do on other projects, but for now our annual Homecoming production is in the hands of others. That leaves me free to once again flee the valley for a few hours each afternoon and soak in as much as this brief season will allow.

On Monday I drove through Provo Canyon, only two miles from my home. Within minutes I was at the turnout for Bridal Veil Falls. I've seen this waterfall thousands of times over the years, but something about it this year caught my eye. I climbed a hill on the opposite side of the canyon, set my camera on my tripod, and watched the sunset in the western sky. The long shadows of Cascade Mountain and the twisted rock layers of the Wasatch Fault drifted over the waterfall. When it was almost entirely covered, except for a slight highlight at the upper-fall level, I made the image above. Somehow, the 15 minutes of fading light felt like a gift, a long awaited gift for all the autumns I've let slip through my fingers for the last 30 years.

Last evening I climbed to the top of Buffalo Peak, near Cascade Mountain. There is a lovely matrix of meadows that offer views across Provo Canyon to Mount Timpanogos. I've shot there before, but it has been a particular joy to roam among the aspen and oak trees this week. It may not be much more than a few more weeks when the first snows blanket these fields and forests. For now they are here for me to enjoy.