This photograph was taken on a cold, still morning in late September at Moraine Lake, nestled deep in Banff National Park. We were staying at Moraine Lake Lodge, which gave us the rare privilege of early access — a crucial detail, as sunrise at this alpine lake is both fleeting and transformational.

We woke well before dawn and made our way up the rock pile, flashlights guiding our steps. Wanting an unobstructed view, we descended slightly from the main viewpoint to position ourselves closer to the lake’s edge. The silence was profound — just the crunch of gravel and the occasional murmur among the early risers gathered nearby.

As the first light crept over the Valley of the Ten Peaks, the mountaintops began to glow with golden fire. The lake, utterly still, mirrored the peaks with glass-like precision. No breeze, no ripple, just perfect symmetry and that unmistakable turquoise glacial water.