Maroon Bells, Elk Mountains, Colorado

This black & white photograph of the Maroon Bells captures one of the great iconic vistas of the American West. These massive peaks rise to over 14,000 feet southwest of the town of Aspen, Colorado. Towering over extensive groves of aspen trees along West Maroon Creek, these huge mountain pyramids form the centerpiece of the spectacular Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness. With seven peaks topping out over 14,000 feet, this wilderness area is a magnet for climbers. This area hosts some of the most prolific aspen groves in the West. Depending on the previous summer’s moisture and temperatures, the first aspen leaves usually begin to change color by mid September with the last trees shedding their leaves by mid October. This panoramic black & white photograph was captured with a 6×17 panorama format camera.