Every time I would get to this part of the trail I would think to myself, “I need to time it so I can really show off the texture of this area.”  Well that day came.  The backlighting on the new grass allowed me to get this really rich green.  The clouds in the sky help tell the story of a clearing storm.  They also allowed me to put the sun in the shot.

Having the sun lower on the horizon was essential.  It was the lighting created by this that showed off all the variation.  Without this light it is just an evenly sloping green hillside.  The dark shadows show how water has, and continues to, shape this landscape.  Slowly carving a little bit with each rain.

All of these pieces together created a dynamic image.  Hopefully you can almost feel the breeze and sun on your skin.  Perhaps best of all, you can enjoy the beauty of Spring in Chico without experiencing seasonal allergies!