Glistening Raindrops Amplify the Magic of Fall Colors: How I made the picture

Each year the photographers at the Daily Herald try to find some beauty in the colorful fall season.

Honestly I enjoy this assignment every year.

It gives me a chance to be a little more creative than a straightforward news assignment sometimes offers.

The day I made the photo above, I had already shot and submitted a number of fall color pictures.

I was between assignments, waiting for an event to start and working on my laptop in my car processing images on Friday, Oct. 27, in Glendale Heights. I looked up, and it had started raining. I wasn't too happy about this, because I had two assignments outside that afternoon.

But this lovely tree caught my eye, and the raindrops that were collecting on my windshield only helped.

I tried a few different angles, and finally made the frame above, with my iPhone.

Yeah, that's right, my iPhone. Sometimes the right tool for the job is the one that you have right there with you.

The golden tree set against the clouds, blue sky, raindrops, really helped make this image come together.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.