What makes a photograph good? Its use of color, composition, lighting, technical quality, impact, creativity, the story it tells? I haven’t a clue. All I know is that I need to wait, point at what looks like something I haven’t seen before, and tap the shutter button on my humble iPhone 7.
On Sunday, June 30, between 5:11 a.m. and 6:15 a.m., I took 20 photographs and one video of the sunrise. I have chosen 10 of these photographs to tell the story of my morning.
The first photo taken around 5:25, looking east. Note the moon.
5:35 a.m. — After I take this shot, I walk west for five minutes.
5:40 a.m. — The view toward the west.
5:50 a.m. — I turn around and capture this view toward the east. I then walk west for another 10 minutes.6 a.m. — looking east. I note the clouds that look like contrails. Also, the mist hovering above the fields.That’s kinda cool.I don’t know why.6:10 a.m — the view to my right, looking south. Note the rabbit, left center. That the mist hovering above the pasture looks like the ruts in the dirt road intrigues me.I don’t know why.6:11 a.m. — I take about 10 steps west, checking out more of the mist.Pivoting east, but not moving from my previous photo, I capture this imageat 6:13 a.m.Seeing too many electrical wires in my previous shot, I take five steps forward and shoot this image. I once again notice the cloud contrails. Would showing more of them make a difference in, oh, I don’t know, the “impact” of the photo? At 6:14, I walk one minute west, turn around and capture this image. The rising sun seems to be at the end of the cloud contrails. That’s kind of interesting, plus the rising sun shining on the mist is lovely. I have no idea what I’m doing except — like I wondered at the beginning of this post — a lot of looking and waiting. The photographer, Sally Mann, said moments like these captured, “the angel of chance.”Guess this is what that angel looks like.
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Yesterday morning, before I even thought about writing this post, I emailed the last image to my sister, Lauren. She replied: “This is beautiful. I see angels in the sky. I like to think they’re looking out for you.”
Then a couple hours later, while pondering what to write in this post, I perused Sally Mann’s memoir, Hold Still, and came across the “angel of chance” perspective. Guess the angel hovers in coincidences like these as well.
Just beautiful, Sharon. Thank you for sharing.
Are all your photos horizontal or do you ever shoot vertical? For the moon photo, it might have given you a bit more land/sky contrast.
You are creating a really lovely portfolio and I look forward to seeing more.
You’re very welcome, Beth. I shoot vertical as well as horizontal — again, not really knowing why some shots work better vertically, etc.
I texted you the vertical shot I took of the moon which I took BEFORE the first shot featured in this post. I don’t know how to post the image in a comment. Sigh.
Thanks for appreciating my sunrises. When you visit in August, we’ll get up early to wait and watch. xoxo
I just tried something. Not sure if this is the way to upload an image in a comment. We’ll see.
IT WORKED! Just click on the link in the previous comment to see the vertical shot of the moon I took on Sunday morning.
Can anyone explain to me why the sky is lighter, etc. in the photos I took facing west and south [#’s 6 & 7] compared to the ones I took facing east [#’s 8-10]? The photos featuring the rising sun are DARKER than the ones where the sun hasn’t hit yet. Why is that?
Sweet! Consider taking a photography class. You have a good eye, but you are sure to learn more tricks of the trade, especially regarding framing, composition and techniques. Plus it’s fun. I loved my photography classes in college.
I don’t know the real/technical answer to your question, but it is likely that the brightness of the sun casts everything near it in silhouette. If you try to take a picture of a person into the sun they only appear as a dark figure.
Okay, Beth . . . but why does the sun cast everything near it in silhouette? I don’t know why I don’t get this. Is the camera lens compensating for too much brightness?
Thank you for your beautiful post today, Sharie. I especially like the photo you provided a link for in your comments. You have inspired me to cancel my Spotify account so I can enjoy the beauty of nature fully while I am walking. xoxoxo
Thank you, Merrie Lee. I have to tell you that I have a lot of conversations with Mom while out there. The morning I took these photos I was wondering when she saw her last sunrise. Seriously, when might that have been? The last time she was at the ocean?
You cancelled your Spotify account?! Wow. Good for you. I used to listen to music constantly when I walked, but not anymore. That’s not to say that I don’t still LOVE, LOVE, LOVE music, but it does impede your concentration of what’s right in front of you when you’re outside. The next time you’re here, we’ll go on one of these early morning walks. My photos capture only moments. You’ll see what I mean. xoxoxo
Sharon, these are simply beautiful! Thrilling! Picture # 8 is almost your Stonehenge–sun rising between the monoliths of two clumps of shrubbery. Thank you for these uplifting moments.
Carol — you taught me how to pay more attention to what’s right in front of me. Your photos of birds on your deck or weeds along your garden walk are inspirational, not to mention the poems you write that occasionally accompany the images. So, thank YOU!
RE: picture #8 — those electrical wires! GRRRRR! I never realized how many telephone poles, etc. were around until I started photographing what I saw in front of me. Humans sure do mess with Mother Nature.
Just beautiful. Thank you.
You’re very welcome, dear Kelly.
Sharon
I agree with comments about good eye and good instinct and also encourage you to take classes because you learn so well by doing. I really love all the shots and your comments and liked the vertical shot of the moon. Stunning. Appreciate your presence and wonder and openness to whatever you discover. You are delving into your creativity and what a beautiful process. Love being your witness.
This is a beautiful sunrise series. Sharon has become obsessed with “the golden hour.”
Yesterday morning, before I even thought about writing this post, I emailed the last image to my sister, Lauren. She replied: “This is beautiful. I see angels in the sky. I like to think they’re looking out for you.”
Then a couple hours later, while pondering what to write in this post, I perused Sally Mann’s memoir, Hold Still, and came across the “angel of chance” perspective. Guess the angel hovers in coincidences like these as well.
Just beautiful, Sharon. Thank you for sharing.
Are all your photos horizontal or do you ever shoot vertical? For the moon photo, it might have given you a bit more land/sky contrast.
You are creating a really lovely portfolio and I look forward to seeing more.
You’re very welcome, Beth. I shoot vertical as well as horizontal — again, not really knowing why some shots work better vertically, etc.
I texted you the vertical shot I took of the moon which I took BEFORE the first shot featured in this post. I don’t know how to post the image in a comment. Sigh.
Thanks for appreciating my sunrises. When you visit in August, we’ll get up early to wait and watch. xoxo
https://sparkandspitfire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_8507-e1562074052945.jpeg
I just tried something. Not sure if this is the way to upload an image in a comment. We’ll see.
IT WORKED! Just click on the link in the previous comment to see the vertical shot of the moon I took on Sunday morning.
Can anyone explain to me why the sky is lighter, etc. in the photos I took facing west and south [#’s 6 & 7] compared to the ones I took facing east [#’s 8-10]? The photos featuring the rising sun are DARKER than the ones where the sun hasn’t hit yet. Why is that?
Sweet! Consider taking a photography class. You have a good eye, but you are sure to learn more tricks of the trade, especially regarding framing, composition and techniques. Plus it’s fun. I loved my photography classes in college.
I don’t know the real/technical answer to your question, but it is likely that the brightness of the sun casts everything near it in silhouette. If you try to take a picture of a person into the sun they only appear as a dark figure.
Okay, Beth . . . but why does the sun cast everything near it in silhouette? I don’t know why I don’t get this. Is the camera lens compensating for too much brightness?
Thank you for your beautiful post today, Sharie. I especially like the photo you provided a link for in your comments. You have inspired me to cancel my Spotify account so I can enjoy the beauty of nature fully while I am walking. xoxoxo
Thank you, Merrie Lee. I have to tell you that I have a lot of conversations with Mom while out there. The morning I took these photos I was wondering when she saw her last sunrise. Seriously, when might that have been? The last time she was at the ocean?
You cancelled your Spotify account?! Wow. Good for you. I used to listen to music constantly when I walked, but not anymore. That’s not to say that I don’t still LOVE, LOVE, LOVE music, but it does impede your concentration of what’s right in front of you when you’re outside. The next time you’re here, we’ll go on one of these early morning walks. My photos capture only moments. You’ll see what I mean. xoxoxo
Sharon, these are simply beautiful! Thrilling! Picture # 8 is almost your Stonehenge–sun rising between the monoliths of two clumps of shrubbery. Thank you for these uplifting moments.
Carol — you taught me how to pay more attention to what’s right in front of me. Your photos of birds on your deck or weeds along your garden walk are inspirational, not to mention the poems you write that occasionally accompany the images. So, thank YOU!
RE: picture #8 — those electrical wires! GRRRRR! I never realized how many telephone poles, etc. were around until I started photographing what I saw in front of me. Humans sure do mess with Mother Nature.
Just beautiful. Thank you.
You’re very welcome, dear Kelly.
Sharon
I agree with comments about good eye and good instinct and also encourage you to take classes because you learn so well by doing. I really love all the shots and your comments and liked the vertical shot of the moon. Stunning. Appreciate your presence and wonder and openness to whatever you discover. You are delving into your creativity and what a beautiful process. Love being your witness.
This is a beautiful sunrise series. Sharon has become obsessed with “the golden hour.”