Over Labor Day, both sunrise photographs that I submitted to the annual Greenbelt Labor Day Photo Show won awards: first place and third place in their category of sunrises/sunsets and then first place and third place for “Community Favorites.” Several people asked me to share the stories behind these photos, so here goes. I’ll start with the photo pictured below, the third-place winner entitled “Sunrise Ascent.”
On the morning of October 27, I drove to my parking spot at the top of Research Road and then walked using my trekking poles two miles to a favorite spot that I affectionally call Goose Pond, but is formally identified on BARC maps as “Sewage Disposal.” (!) When I arrived at 7 a.m., I was greeted by the moon.
Because the sun wasn’t scheduled to rise until 7:30, I decided to check out the fall foliage in the bushes aligning the road to Goose Pond:
I then headed back to Goose Pond and perched myself on a steep bank leaning on one of my trekking poles.
Near the distant far shore, I saw scores of wild geese. I had observed them for so long over the years, I knew that an increasingly frenzied honking meant some were getting ready to take off. I let go of my trekking pole, steadied myself, positioned my camera, and then took 8 rapid-fire photographs as they flew by. I had tried capturing their ascent so many times at Goose Pond, but had never been successful. Below is the 4th shot.
The 7th shot (first photo above) is the award winner. It was hard to tell on an iPhone, but I hoped I had captured something and indeed, it looked like I had. I was anxious to get home to check out the images on my Desktop, but not so anxious that I didn’t stop and take in the fall foliage one more time.
For less than an hour, Mother Nature had put on quite a show. What’s more, “the wild geese, harsh and exciting” according to Mary Oliver, had over and over again announced my place “in the family of things.”
I am still so grateful.
NEXT: The story behind the first place photo, “Sunrise Tornado Watch”
Your photos are always so alive and so gorgeous. Love them and you!
Thank you, dear Neola. I love seeing your words first thing in the morning. I never thought of my photos as “alive,” so thank you for that, too! xoxo
Yes, I agree, your pictures ARE alive. There’s a great deal of movement &, at times, excitement. I certainly see it in this one!
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Here is the entire poem, “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver that I quoted from in the last paragraph of my post. It is likely her most well-known poem:
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
I have no access to Goose Pond these days because it is all overgrown and the one time I attempted it a couple of months ago, I emerged with at least 5-6 ticks attached to me. I am hoping that the winter months will kill off some of the brambles and bushes and I’ll be able to perch on the bank once more.
Thank you, Sharon for explaining what went into the chosen photo that became the winner. The background definitely adds depth to it, & I find that it makes the photo more interesting. I see things that I didn’t the first time around. If I haven’t stated it before, then here’s a rousing “Congratulations” to you!
Thank you, Laura. Youāve always championed my photos. Means a lot.šš
you are such a professional. Own it!!
BSB as my mother would say!!
Hey, Charlotteāwhat does BSB mean? Iāve forgotten.š
I contacted Charlotte and her mother always said, āBeautiful Simply Beautiful.ā ā¤ļøā¤ļø
There is news of Russian drones being shot down over Poland today AND there is the beauty and peace of a sunrise over Goose Pond. Thank you for the opportunity to bathe in the latter today. It will help me to face the world.
Congratulations on your photo contest wins which are so well deserved.
Thank you, Beth. I hope my photos help to balance all the evil destruction of this particular time in our lives.
I went out to farmland this morning even though it was completely overcast. I just wanted the solace. I walked for a bit, stood for a bit, prayed for a bit. The soul replenishment helps even when there is no visible sunrise.
Short, 2 finger comment–with your poetic photographic soul and your astonishingly quick and adept fingers you capture so much beauty lost to so many other eyes! Thank you!
Oh, Carol — taking a loving moment to post despite a broken finger and wrist. There’s a certain beauty in that, too. Thank you. xoxo