When I first saw this scene, it had a very "painterly" feel to it. The light reflecting off the front mounds back onto the shady rock faces below the cliff overhangs looked as if painted in by brush. The treatment I gave this photo nudged the resulting image in this direction to emphasize this feeling.

I love the balance in the composition, resulting in an experience that demands the eye to wander to all parts of the scene. I could plan a two-week trip down this road and still feel like I need more.

Canon EOS 5D, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS @ 135mm, 1/800 sec @f/5, ISO equiv 200, handheld, image stabilized