Aspen Leaves, Aspen Reflections
Aspen trees reflect on the surface of a small pond, with autumnal aspen leaves floating by. San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
REASON FOR REJECTION: I went back and forth about this one for a while and decided to leave it out because I didn't like the color palette and think the overall visual effect is confusing (it is possible this is a multiple exposure, which might help explain some of the visual confusion). The light gray streaks across the surface of the pond are an example of that visual confusion. The scene has too many literal visual points of reference, like the aspen leaves and trunks, to work as an abstract yet I don't think it works very well as a literal reflection scene because it has too much going on. Not awful, not great! Photo © copyright by Sarah Marino and Ron Coscorrosa.