There is no time of day that compares to morning. Especially sunrise. Nocturnal animals are still out and about. Diurnal creatures are starting their day. There is anticipation and wonder in what is yet to come. As a photographer you have the entire day to create images.
The actual sunrise is my favorite part of early mornings. You never know what will happen, but my suggestion is to always begin the photographic process before the sun reaches the horizon. Many times the very best colors of the day will be on display before he sun actually rises. While the sun is still below the horizon it sends its rays upward for a meeting with the clouds. The results are often beautiful.
The sequence of photos below were made along the shores of Lake Michigan in northern Illinois. I stood at the edge of the great lake, pun intended, in the darkness looking towards the heavens and asking what this day would bring. As the sky began to lighten very slightly I noticed a group of black clouds in the distance. To my joy I began to see a jagged path of lightning bolts stabbing their way out of the clouds. I turned my camera towards those western clouds. Alas every time I decided to trip the shutter the lightning would strike, but it would do so well below a line of trees. Maybe an abstract? Depth of field issues would not allow me to create the images that were already dancing through my head. Then the lightning stopped. It seemed as if there would be no gifts on this summer morning. Then as the clouds began to reach the shores of Lake Michigan something magical happened. The sun, which was still below the horizon, reached for its brush and began to paint the clouds with some of the most spectacular colors imaginable. I worked at a feverish pace. I zoomed in and out. I changed lenses and positions constantly. Was this extended moment ever going to end? It was time to slow down and make my final few images while savoring every last second. I sat on a rock for what seemed like an eternity and pondered what I had just witnessed. I looked above and gave thanks for The Gift I had been given.
I think it proper to state, that none of the images in the sequence are HDR images, and not a single click of the saturation button was used. If I had used HDR, the foreground would be lighter and show more detail. I didn’t even use a graduated neutral density filter for any of the pix. I did use PhotoShop to separate and lighten the shoreline in the first image, but they are not enhanced.
Earth Images Blog by Wayne Nelson 
Beautiful images. While my father, pioneer landscape photographer Philip Hyde was not big on sunset or sunrise photographs, he did make some, when they were unique like these. Besides, sunrise was his favorite time of the day too. He never missed one while in the field. He usually framed the sun as backlight, or let it illuminate or isolate some feature of the land, flora or fauna. I admire those of you who routinely get up early. I’m more of a night person, burning the lamp until late or early as you might see it. These are all wonderful, but I like the first and the third the best.
Thank you so much David. I have been doing this for almost 40 years and your father remains very special in my heart. He honored nature with the brilliance of his images and gave us a part of himself as well. There are many fine photographers today but most are missing something that photographers like your father had an abundance of.
I appreciate your coments.
I also would also like to mention that I agree fully about which are the best two of my images. I rarely explain my favorites of my own work. The foreground detail and contrasts of the first image and the more subtle aspects of number three are my reasons.
We spent many a morning at these places but never saw a sunrise like this……You captured it well, my friend.
Thank you pal! This one was really just a gift.
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