Ice had formed along the West Fork of Oak Creek the morning I started my first venture into this colorful canyon. As you begin the turn on the trail which takes you into the West Fork, you are confronted with a shear sandstone wall which has been stained by years of water running along its face. As soon as I saw this cliff - I knew I was going to be spending some time trying to photograph it! Walking off the trail a few hundred feet I was immediately struck and excited by the potential of having a dark tree framed in the white portion of the cliff, with the regular pattern of vertical stripes weathered on the rock set off against the chaotic grey branches of the tree. It didn't take long before the image presented itself. This was one of those photographs which I envisioned long before it was actually seen and composed - and perhaps is why I love this image so much.