Actually I could have labeled today’s post Red Dawn or Red Dusk as I spent no small amount of time making images at both ends of the day.
Sunrise/sunset comes in various warm colors which certainly include pale yellow to bright gold. My favorite is however, rich reds.
At those times of day, you can often point your camera in every direction to find the land or buildings painted gold or red. I usually looked for silhouettes be they huge or tiny, to add shape to the image.
All of today’s examples were made at the first light of the day.
When time and freedom permitted, I would often begin the day with sunrise, and then if the season was right I would move on to dewy flowers, orb webs, or insects. Then I would move on to a day of wildlife photography, and then finish with the setting sun.
Sounds nice right now!
This first shot is likely Lake Michigan but I cannot be sure. Those gulls helped to “make the picture” by adding life.
Trees without leaves make for nice shapes. Craggy actually makes for nice shapes in general. I likely took a one percent spot meter reading from the bright spot where the sun peaks through. Yes, all of the branches, and the sun itself are all composed. There were of course many differing comps that could have been made.
I found little to silhouette here, but this one lone plant gave me something to “shoot for”, if you will.
Foggy mornings can be beautiful if the light of the rising sun fills in the open spots. Of course those trees and the grasses in the foreground added shape and form.
I long ago titled this image Prairie Fire. It is of course a prairie sunrise and when I saw what was happening in the sky, I got serious in a hurry.
Both getting up early and staying out late when on a photography excursion is often well worth the lack of sleep, or eating supper a bit late.
Below we really have a page from my past. I loved my time as an auto racing photographer and if I may say so, I enjoyed much success with the nation’s top auto racing newspapers and magazines, including magazine covers and center spreads. I also managed to sell my fair share of prints to fans and families of drivers as well.
The images below were made in my final year of chasing race cars. This was at Angel Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI. The type of car is what is called a sprint car. A winged sprint car actually.
The driver was not seriously injured but I am sure he was plagued with a variety of aches and pains for several days.
While this is a good “flip shot”, I would not even have turned this in to a paper much less a magazine. The reason is the lack of sharpness of the actual car and driver.
If this would have been captured later when it was dark out, even though of course there would be track lights, I would have used electronic flash. The unfathomably fast duration of the flash would have stopped the car perfectly and would likely been tack sharp. I Also would have had my lens stopped down from the 4.5 I was using to f11 or better. That depth of field would have held the entire car on focus.
More stop action and more depth of focus makes for a better image.
I do admit, I miss being a racing photographer and wondering if I could get the shot, and then get out of the way of any race cars headed towards me.
Photography in general took me to many great places, and allowed me to view and visually capture many great things.
The things of life that we do, come and they go. The images will remain after our departure.
I have led a fortunate life. God as smiled at me. He did so when I was not worthy of it. I have walked my own path many times. We are however, never alone and there are consequences and/or rewards to our choices.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9–10
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.- 1 Peter 2:16–17
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor
Romans 10:12
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him
I have rarely said good about Chuck Schumer or Nancy Pelosi. Their recent courage to stand with Israel despite the fact that their political side is at one thousand to one in favor of the terrorists, means I should commend them for some recent actions which put them in the camp which knows who actually started this war.
Amir Tsarfati is the name of an Israeli Jew who long ago became a believing and worshipping Christian.
His knowledge of both religions as well as the Middle East, is beyond description.
His website is called, Behold Israel
God Bless,
Wayne
Earth Images Blog by Wayne Nelson 