Juneau from Douglas Island, Juneau, Alaska – Image 2596

I had planned to shoot a Christmas card of Juneau at first light with a fully lit Christmas tree in the foreground. Months before this shoot, I hauled a Christmas tree, lights, generator and a tree stand up the mountain. I set up the tree, decorated it and strung about 100 feet of power chord. I left and waited for a fresh snow followed by a clear morning. It took a couple of months for the perfect convergence. When it finally happened in late February, I started skiing up to my spot around 4a.m., only to find my tree blown down and buried in snow. I shot this photo without the tree and loved the image. Later, when I started up the generator, I found the tree by the colored glow under the snow cover. I believe the image is stronger without the lit tree. Good luck and fortune save this photo for me. This image illustrates the month of January in my 2009 Juneau Alaska Calendar which is in its 20th year.Nikon F4, Lens: 20-35mm f/2.8 Nikkor, Fuji Velvia slide film-Mark Kelley