I love the peaks, the strength and the absolute intensity of mountains. They're ideal subjects for photography, since they have built-in contrast and conflict. And when you hit mountains with early morning light, they're even more dramatic.

This image was taken not far out of Bishop, California, on the highway up to Mammoth Mountain. I made the trek up there in 2016 with two friends (who are fellow photo enthusiasts) during a season in which the Sierra Nevada mountain range experienced a particularly heavy snowfall. This was one of the first times I'd ever been up to the Mammoth area with no intent to ski – only to take photos – and I didn't miss the slopes at all. I was completely fulfilled by capturing the beautiful scenery, and I still am: I have a 36" x 24" print of this image hanging on the wall directly behind my desk.