Wish You Were Here

This image was taken in Oregon along the McKenzie River in October of 2003. I was hiking along the river when I saw this bench framed in beautiful fall colors. It had been an overcast and rainy day, but I knew if the sun managed to break through and light up this scene it would be spectacular. When the sun finally did show it lit up the bench and shone through the trees brilliantly. When it's possible I try to incorporate the “people element” into my photos, in this particular image the bench is the “people element”. I could not have asked for a more perfect composition than what was already there. I hope that the viewer is left with the same feelings of peace and serenity that I felt when I first came upon this scene.