The gamble of sunrise photography?
Posted by John Parminter 2010-05-10 17:43
I think I prefer photography towards the end of the day rather than the start if only for the better predictability of what may happen.
I do still though drag myself out of bed at unearthly hours in an attempt to capture scenes that many folk never have the chance of seeing. There is always a dilemma and gamble though if the weather conditions are actually going to turn out as you might hope.
I recently had a plan to photograph Windermere in the English Lake District at sunrise, I knew the location I wanted to be, where the Sun would rise and all I hoped for was a nice layer or two of high level cloud to turn red and provide aerial interest.
I woke a little too late, looked out of the window and saw clear skies and twinkling stars, this normally sends me straight back to bed as it heralds a plain and fairly uninteresting sky but I persevered anyway.
A mad dash in the car for 30 minutes enabled me to be at the foot of a hill which was my vantage point, another 15 minutes of hard labour up the hill and I just made it with minutes to spare before the Sun rose above the neighbouring hills to illuminate the scene.
There wasn't a cloud in the sky but a gentle hue from yellow to blue across the horizon. I was a little disappointed that I had made so much effort only to be rewarded with a clear sky but made the most of the opportunity anyway.
Reflecting on the images I made now, I am quite satisfied that the sky wasn't dramatic as I had hoped, I think it has reinforced the calm and tranquil qualities of the image and I'm more than pleased with the results.
Windermere at dawn from the hill overlooking Clappersgate.
Please click on the image to take you to the large version or the Lakes, Tarns and Waters Gallery for other scenes.
I do still though drag myself out of bed at unearthly hours in an attempt to capture scenes that many folk never have the chance of seeing. There is always a dilemma and gamble though if the weather conditions are actually going to turn out as you might hope.
I recently had a plan to photograph Windermere in the English Lake District at sunrise, I knew the location I wanted to be, where the Sun would rise and all I hoped for was a nice layer or two of high level cloud to turn red and provide aerial interest.
I woke a little too late, looked out of the window and saw clear skies and twinkling stars, this normally sends me straight back to bed as it heralds a plain and fairly uninteresting sky but I persevered anyway.
A mad dash in the car for 30 minutes enabled me to be at the foot of a hill which was my vantage point, another 15 minutes of hard labour up the hill and I just made it with minutes to spare before the Sun rose above the neighbouring hills to illuminate the scene.
There wasn't a cloud in the sky but a gentle hue from yellow to blue across the horizon. I was a little disappointed that I had made so much effort only to be rewarded with a clear sky but made the most of the opportunity anyway.
Reflecting on the images I made now, I am quite satisfied that the sky wasn't dramatic as I had hoped, I think it has reinforced the calm and tranquil qualities of the image and I'm more than pleased with the results.
Windermere at dawn from the hill overlooking Clappersgate.Please click on the image to take you to the large version or the Lakes, Tarns and Waters Gallery for other scenes.
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