Life in the Rocky Mountains can be hard. The winters are long and cold, spring can be muddy as the snow melts, the warmth of summer is brief (the frost-free growing season is ridiculously short). The big event, to me at least, is the annual display of color that the aspens forests offer. In August, residents and visitors watch for the first sign of fall. Aspen stands prepare for winter at their own individual pace, so while the valleys are green, some isolated high-altitude trees are already glowing as sunlight passes through translucent yellow leaves.

As the change gathers pace, whole landscapes are transformed. In this next shot, Uncompahgre Peak towers above aspen-covered slopes that are rapidly revealing magnificent fall colors.

In celebration of this spectacle, I devoted the whole of my latest book to some of my favorite fall photographs. It follows a typical season - from the first leaf to fall to the last (and the first snowfall) over 96 pages. Every part, from cover to cover, was fully designed by me. Let me know and I'll be happy to sign a copy for you.

As fall comes to an end after a few short weeks, a carpet of leaves are all that remains of the colors. A bare forest canopy is a sure sign that winter will soon be here, and the cycle of seasons continues.

For more fall color images, click here, or take a look at my other seasonal galleries here.