19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Autumn Colorado landscape of drought at Standley Lake

The drought enlarged the shore of the lake. Normally the lake edge comes almost up to the tree line. The leaves of the trees are brown emphasizing the theme of the drought and loss. The lake is part of a regional wildlife refuge and provides water to 3 Colorado cities. I was drawn to the contrast between the starkness of the drought landscape and the peacefulness and meditative atmosphere of the sky and its reflection in the lake.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Westminster, Colorado, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D7100
Copyright: © Merrimon Crawford