I love mornings, I just wish they didn’t come so darned early! Especially on weekends, the last thing I want to do is set an alarm. But I’ve been preaching for years that the landscape photographer’s most important tool is the alarm clock. Lately, I haven’t been so good about practicing what I preach. This time of year though, sunrise is late – about 7:30 – so I can actually sleep later than I do during the week and still get up and photograph. It’s possible, I said!
We got a little bit of ice yesterday. Hardly anything to get excited about, but with the forecast of clearing skies overnight, I went to bed with visions of sunbeams and dramatic clouds and frozen grass lighting up like diamonds in the morning light. The possibility of dramatic conditions gave me enough reason to plan to get up. I should have set my alarm, though, but I didn’t. So when I woke up at 5:00 I couldn’t go back to sleep because I had sorta committed to getting up. But I stayed awake, and I got up.
I get a lot of inspiration from a small circle of friends who have photo blogs. Monte Stevens is The Man when it comes to getting up and out for sunrise. I should do so well. Usually I don’t, but today I did. Monte posted the other day about getting up for sunrise, and he, Paul & I had a friendly little exchange about getting up for sunrise, and I kinda sorta committed to getting up this morning. So I had to, right?
The transition that occurs when I go out with a camera always amazes me. It really doesn’t matter what the conditions are, there is always something to shoot. The results aren’t always something I would hang on the wall, and I doubt any of this morning’s photos will be. But you never know. And the main thing is, I need to get my sorry self out the door in order to take any pictures. And if all I accomplish is getting my ass out the door, using the camera and getting a little practice once I do, that is nothing to complain about. And if I come back with some decent photographs, that’s a bonus!
The amazing conditions that I had pictured in my mind’s eye didn’t materialize. But we did have a little fog, the air was still and it was very quiet – some of my favorite conditions for making photographs. So I made my way across the icy street and down the frozen steps to the Greenway, taking care to not fall on my butt – or worse, on top of the camera slung over my shoulder. It was slick, but I had good boots and was careful.
I got out about 7:00, 30 minutes or so before sunrise, and figured on staying out for an hour or so, and that’s about what I did. I went to a section of the Greenway that would have a good view of the sun if I actually saw it, but it didn’t make an appearance. And as of 10:00 this morning I’m still waiting. But I’m back in the house now with my coffee and warm slippers sitting at the computer, so life is good!
But Monte and Paul, I did get out! And here are the photos to prove it! Enjoy!
Tom. You are indeed a man of your word! 🙂 You got a nice haul, here. But, as you say, just getting out there is enough. I poked my head out this morning and took a couple of shots in the backyard, but that was about as far as it went. I surely was not going to drive anywhere and play bumper cars like so many of my fellow Charlotteans!
On this side of town, the sun has been playing hide and seek, mostly hide, but it is getting warmer and I think that I’ll take myself for a little afternoon walk while Hobbs continues his sleeping.
Glad that I wasn’t under the gun. I was awake, but had no desire to dress and go outside. 🙂
I felt a lot safer on my feet than I would have in the car, that’s for sure!
The sun’s been out for a few hours now and the temps are much warmer. I think I’ll plan to sleep tomorrow morning though! 🙂
Love that first image the best. It has that mood. Glad you are a man of your word and we have the proof for it. Self discipline is an evasive creature for me that comes and goes randomly. I’ve always been a morning person, wanting to get started. There is something about early morning light and the quiet. I also think those slippers feel better and the coffee tastes better after an early morning session.
Thanks, Monte. I like that one also. Interestingly, I had to dial the blue way back to get the “feel” I was looking for. The original was way too blue. This has a “colder” feel, I think. And it was pretty cold by our standards!
Tom, lately I am seeing an error when I post a comment. The error states your site is unavailable and to try later. I’ve gone back a page and tried again but get the same error. When I reload your page I find my comments there.
Paul just told me the same thing, and I’ve had my dashboard open all day. I’ve closed it now and we’ll see if it makes any difference. And I’ll see if it happens when I post this comment, I guess! 🙂
I just posted three comments and didn’t see the message. I’m going to log out and see if anyone else has the problem. Strange.