Adam Gibbs's Image

At first, the broad strap of shadow on the shoreline opposite bothered Adam.

He had hiked to the Enchantments, an area of lakes and tarns in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington, USA, and had set up camp for a few days. The plan was to photograph the waterfall at the far end of the lake in sunshine. Adam knew he would probably be able to find another, shadow-free viewpoint the next day, but while thinking about moving, the beauty of the overall scene dawned on him. 'The dots of autumn colour of the clumps of Alpine larch and the warm glow of the reflected light on the side of the cliff was sublime,' says Adam. 'So instead of wishing the shadow away, I realised it was a key element of the composition.'