The evening sun illuminates the top of a canyon ledge supporting but a single tree. I used my spot meter on the brightest part of the image – the slabs of rock that line that ledge – to create my exposure. The rest of the image darkens accordingly. I was struck by the way the rock façade below the tree holds its glow as the rest of the image darkens. It is reflected light, bouncing off the rim of the Grand Canyon itself, which creates that glow. The glow seems to nurture the solitary tree above it, urging it to flourish.