The Maroon Bells are known as the most photographed mountains in the US. In order to get "a shot", many elements have to happen at the same time: 1) The aspens have to be at their prime in Autumn which is usually around the third week of September. 2) There should be no wind. 3) The peaks of the mountains have to be visible. At over 14,000 feet, the peaks are usually covered with the cloud. 4) To add some dramatic effect to the image, there should be some snow partially covers the mountains. On the prime time, the parking lot is usually full by 4:30 AM so one has to come pretty early. On the lake shore, there are limited spots for the view so arriving early is a must if one wants to have a good spot.
To get the shot I wanted, I had to try 4 times. The 4th try I had to cut short my stay in Ouray to drive up the day before. I was lucky to get the last available hotel room in a town about 35 miles south of Aspen. To ensure I had a good spot (a friend I met at the site also "reserved" the spot for me. Thanks C.J.) and a parking space, I had to arrive at the site at 2 AM!
Although the "shot" was not 100% of what I wanted but I was happy to walk away with it.