A low hanging fog obscures both the sun and the stand of pine trees just off the road between Old Faithful and Madison Junction. Some of the trees are barren trunks, a reminder of the wildfires that scorched one third of Yellowstone in 1988. The rising sun turns the fog a burnt orange, reminding us of both smoke and fire. The mood is somber yet beautiful. Nature has its own paintbrush, and this image emphasizes that fact.