There is nothing like waking up and driving out to a gorgeous landscape to simply meet the sun as she makes her debut for the day. One of my favorite places to visit when it comes to moments like this in Arizona is the Tonto National Forest, in particular the Lower Salt River area. When we decide that this is how we want to start our weekend, we typically get up while the dark skies still prevail and travel out to find a quiet little piece of land where we can feel the stillness and experience the quiet in a way that is truly spiritual. This particular moment was captured near the Coons Bluff area of the Salt River. We arrived just as the sun was peeking over the mountains. After getting the tripod and settings in place, I just stood and admired how the light was beginning to highlight the scene. We wholeheartedly enjoyed watching the colors evolve and blend from dark blue to glimmers of pink and orange as day broke and everything became painted with light. The river was calm and serene, barely any motion, with spectacular reflections of the environment that called that place home. The sky showcased a few streams of clouds and the mountains majestic appearance loomed in the background.