Sunrise
Genesis Dawn
This was how the last day of January, 2012 began at my house. It turned out to be a beautiful day with unseasonably warm temperatures.
I was in my home office, getting some things together before leaving for work, when my wife said, “Have you seen the sky?” One quick look had me dashing for my camera; hoping to get a couple of good shots in the few minutes I had.
This is a view of the pre-sunrise sky beyond the farm field that borders my home.
To see a larger version, click on the image.
Sailing Past the Sun
Enlightening
A low hanging cloud bank was making a futile attempt to suppress the sun rising over Lake Michigan. The foreground is ice and snow covering the harbor. The black line at the edge of the ice is a flock of Canada geese waiting for the warmth of the morning sun. And, of course, the tall structure is the pier light at Algoma, WI.
I prefer the kind of sunrises where a majority of the sky turns beautiful shades of red, orange and gold. Unfortunately, I just haven’t been offered much on the days I could be out shooting. Most of them have been cold, dull, dreary days. This time of year, the days are so short, I have to leave for work before the sun rises and don’t return home until after the sun sets. My best opportunities are the weekends and weekends haven’t been cooperating lately. (I know…excuses, excuses, excuses.)
To see a larger version of this image, click on it.
Smoldering Sunrise
The Christmas gift that keeps on giving… This is another image I captured at sunrise on Christmas morning, 2011. This lighthouse is positioned on the western shore of Lake Michigan – at the harbor opening of Algoma, WI.
Algoma has had some sort of structure providing light for navigational purposes since March 1st of 1893. This current version, standing more than 40 feet tall, has been in place since 1932.
If you’d like a better look, click the image for a larger version.
A Christmas Story – Opening Act
This is the way the day started in Algoma, WI on Sunday, December 25, 2011 – Christmas morning. The sun had to force its way through a band of low clouds hugging the horizon over Lake Michigan.
Myself and another area photographer were there to witness and record it. Obviously, neither one of us had young children at home to open presents on this early Christmas morning. I was actually on my way to church to prepare for the morning’s service and stopped (as I often do) for a quick round of pics.
Click on the photo to see a larger version of it.
Harbor Slush
The harbor at Algoma, WI was busy making slush on the morning I snapped this image. There were chunks of ice undulating with minimal wave action. As they moved, ever so slightly, together and apart, the slush in the water created by the cold temperatures was pushed up between the chunks of ice, creating the ridges seen here.
This was taken right at sunrise on a Sunday morning. If you squint, you can see the first hint of the morning sun on the horizon, just to the right of the lighthouse.
If you have a large monitor, you may be able to see a larger version if you click on the photo.
View from Shore
I know most people prefer to sleep in on Saturday mornings. Not me. I’m up before the sun and scouting out potential, natural beauty. For me, another hour or two of sleep just isn’t worth what I might miss on a calm morning in the pre-sunrise glow.
This is one of my favorite Saturday morning locations. This was the scene just before the sun appeared over Lake Michigan and the lighthouse at Kewaunee, WI…as viewed from the beach.
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Morning Pastels
Look what I found! This is a pre-sunrise view of the Algoma, WI harbor and lighthouse. It was a cold December morning where the surface of the harbor looked like a giant, undulating slushie.
I had been feeling bad for myself because it had been awhile since I was able to get out and take some new photos. My last opportunities (usually early mornings on the weekend) didn’t work out – time wise, weather wise.
While fiddling with my camera, experimenting with a different setting, I found a group of images I had taken more than a week ago and forgotten about. This is the first of a few I will post in the near future.
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Serenity Beach
Morning Charms
This is a similar shot to one I posted last week. This is the upper part of the Kewaunee, WI lighthouse. The previous post (Wisps of Light) was cropped a little closer and left the lighthouse as a silhouette. This one offers a little more sky and a little more detail of the lighthouse.