Last Light on Gambel Oaks
A colorful hillside of Gambel oaks in autumn, illuminated by the last light of the day. Cimarron Mountains, Colorado.
REASON FOR REJECTION: I'm still on the fence about this photo. I like the light and I like the general composition. I darkened the upper background too much but without the darkening, it all blends together a bit too much. In this case, the nice light isn't quite enough to overcome a lackluster composition. If the background was a hillside of oaks instead of aspens, it might feel more cohesive, too. This is another scene that I am feeling sad about since it likely burned in the Gold Mountain Fire, too. If I ever put together a portfolio of "what was" with that landscape, I'd consider including this photo but for this tighter portfolio, I don't think the composition is strong enough. Photo © copyright by Sarah Marino and Ron Coscorrosa.