This was my first time shooting the dawn in the Owens Valley. I knew there weren't going to be any clouds so I wasn't expecting anything dramatic. Sometimes when you're looking for drama you overlook some amazing, subtle beauty. I was running around and trying various comps, not really paying attention, when I shot this photo. Now I look at it and appreciate the color changes in the sky (which I later learned is called the "Belt of Venus"), and the stark beauty of the grassy valley and barren trees. I cropped this photo to focus on the mountains and trees. Gear: Canon 5D MkIII, 24-105mm lens, polarizer, tripod, settings f13, 6 sec exp., ISO 100.