Photo of the Week 2017-03-20

There is nothing quite like stepping out into the fresh, peaceful quiet of a winter morning with sun yet to peak over the tree line and spill it's light into view.

Watching the daylight arrive from my seat at the table while having morning coffee, again I decided to head down and the shore to make some images during the "magic hour" of light. It's really not even a full hour, that fleeting period just before the sun crests the horizon or tree line when all before you is bathed in silky soft, cool light. Then the sun soon peaks out and it all changes, it becomes warmer and gets slightly more harsh ... when the "golden hour" following "magic hour " arrives. So I needed to be out and ready at just the right time ...

I particularly like how the western horizon over Lake Huron glows with magenta and pink when skies are clear at this time of morning and turn my lens in that direction for images like the one below.

Winter Morning Hues 2017-03-19

As we say farewell to winter on this the first official day of Spring 2017, know I will miss crisp mornings and scenes like this on 'the Bruce' ...  but only until next winter.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2014-10-27

Sometimes it is the simple, every-day sights that bring the most pleasure.

Recently, after leaving the hotel on the last day of a business trip in SW Ontario, I was taken by the sight of the morning sky and stopped to sit and finish my coffee while it took it in ...

morning sky

... and of course I had a camera with me.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2012-10-08

The first evening of my recent photography workshop included introductions, a light photo outing and a talk on Conscious Camera Work by workshop leader Doug Wilson. After determining that all of the participants were experienced photographers, Doug rejigged the schedule to have us set out early on the second day for Grace Lake, a much anticipated location on the workshop agenda . A 6:30am departure from the dock and 45 minute boat ride to the portage left plenty of time for photography ... in near dark. Never one to miss a unique opportunity, I cranked up the ISO on the 5DMkIII, set a manual exposure and set about making images of the approaching horizon. This image was made about 15 minutes into our voyage as we exited the narrows from Frood Lake to Cranberry Lake.

Early Morning on Cranberry Lake

The morning was brisk. Some were bundled up wearing gloves and had raised the hoods on their jackets. Me, I sat and let the chill of the morning air wash over my face and hands as I took in more of the scene with every breath. Daylight was approaching rapidly, the warmth of it's arrival brushing over the horizon with an orange hue. It was ... cool, very cool.

Later that day we were asked to select up to four of our images to share with the others during an evening review session. It was not difficult for me to choose this one. I can still feel the freshness of the morning just by looking at it.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2011-08-01

roadside dawn


The really good light for photography occurs early during these summer months, very early. With sunrise taking place just after 6:00 am, getting to a location for the really good light means being there by 6:30. Capturing the glow of the morning sun as it approached the horizon ... at least an hour earlier than that. Add travel time to the location and this can require departures while it's still dark.

I'm normally an early riser and there are many early morning images in my library ... but, as of late I've taken to "banker hours", or so a friend chided me recently. After meeting up to scout out a location that my friend had photographed many times before, the good light was gone. We were too late ... by a long shot. He had arrived early and made a couple of stunning images and I was left to snap off a few that left me wanting "the really good light".

OK, lesson learned. I need to start getting my sorry butt out of the house and off to the shooting location earlier ... as I did for this week's shot. As a matter of fact, this image was almost captured too late. The sun was over the trees and rising in a cloudless sky. The morning mist was beginning to burn off. Not to worry, we'd been out shooting for almost an hour and at least 30 minutes at this location.

I'm reminded why I love getting up and out early ...

DJE