Photo of the Day
Each day, we highlight one extraordinary photograph from National Geographic. Check out more of our photos here.
White trunks rise through an aspen grove filled with golden autumn leaves.
November 13, 2026 | Golden Glow
While biking through White River National Forest near Colorado’s Maroon Bells, Xuebing Du was drawn to the white trunks and golden leaves of an aspen grove at the height of its autumn color. Sunlight filtering through the canopy illuminated the trees as wind moved through the leaves, continually shifting the light and shadows. Rather than photographing the grandeur of the surrounding landscape, Du focused on the intimate experience of being immersed among the trees, where “everything seemed to glow in gold.”
