The fall colors were just starting to show about the time we visited Jasper. By making this image early in the morning, when much of this river valley was in shadow, I was able to paint the new colors upon a darkly forested canvas. I only retain a sliver of the blue gray lake at the bottom of the frame, and remove all sky from the image. I virtually fill my frame with trees, featuring orange Aspens against a field of dark pines.