I was leading a group of Boy Scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch, one of several National High Adventure Bases operated by the Boy Scouts of America. As part of the trip, I put together a tour of some of the scenic areas of New Mexico for us to enjoy before we began our 12-day hike at Philmont.

 We were camped in the Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge, preparing dinner and relaxing in camp when I turned around and saw the colors in the sky. I dropped what I was doing and ran to the car to get my equipment. I quickly set up my tripod and camera and began to shoot away. I was bracketing my exposures and refining my composition, totally concentrating on that beautiful scene. I was totally absorbed for 15 minutes.

 When it was over, a couple of the older Scouts commented that they had never seen me move so quickly or be so intense. Good light is like that--I just have to react because it won’t last for long.