ASPEN DREAM, NEAR ASHCROFT, COLORADO

I made Aspen Dream, near Ashcroft, Colorado just before sunrise in an aspen grove, whose location had been suggested to me by my long time friend Jim Baker, at the time the Photography Program Director at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in nearby Snowmass Village, Colorado. Jim knew my photography well and thought I would enjoy this small, intimate grove of aspens and had mentioned that the light was beautiful in the early morning.

I headed up Castle Creek Valley in the dark and followed Jim's directions to the grove. By the time I arrived the sky was beginning to glow behind the ridgeline to the east. I shouldered my camera pack, grabbed my tripod and headed off into the grove. Within a few moments I had an experience I had never had previously, and have never had since. As I was following the easiest path through beautiful aspens, all of a sudden I had a sense that I knew what would be around the bend – as if I had been in this aspen grove many times before. What amazed me was, as I meandered around some spruce trees, what I saw before me was exactly what I expected, even though I had never been here before!

I am sure we have all felt this sense of deja vu previously, but this was vivid and it was as if I knew exactly the position of the lone spruce tree and the arching aspen trunks. It was not as if I simply wanted to make the photograph, I felt I HAD to make this image. I suspect that the dreamlike experience I had may not convey to others through the image, but I do hope you can experience the ethereal glow and the wonderful sense of solitude and permeating light I felt that early autumn morning in Colorado. I am pleased to share this image with you.

This silver gelatin, selenium toned, print is approximately 13-3/8 x 9-3/4", personally printed by me (as are all my prints), processed to current archival standards, signed, mounted, and matted to 16x20" on 100 percent rag museum board.

All prints are carefully prepared and packaged in specially designed protective shipping boxes, and shipped fully insured via UPS ground.

Normally there is a long waiting period for John's original prints. This is a rare opportunity to obtain a print with a short waiting period.