Category Archives: sunrise

Morning’s Light

Posted by Mike on

Big Bend, Letchworth State Park

I was running around the Big Bend area of Letchworth State Park for quite a while on Saturday. There were so many views to capture. I knew as soon as the sun rose above the horizon I would have another set of images to capture. I followed the stone safety wall further into a wooded area and found this view as the sun was peeking around the gorge wall. I’ll say it again… definitely worth getting up early and the three hour drive.

  

MLCreations Photography: Letchworth &emdash; Morning's Light

Morning’s Light
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/10s, 15mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

Hangin’ Low

Posted by Mike on

Letchworth State Park

I’m not positive about the early bird but if I want to catch a sunrise at Letchworth State Park I know I have to get up pretty early. It is a three hour drive from my house and with the sunrise at 5:30am I decided to set the alarm for 1:30am and be on the road by 2am. It was so worth it!

The colors in the sky before sunrise were absolutely beautiful. There was barely anyone on the road or in the park this early so I had the place to myself. My first destination was Big Bend. This section of the park can be viewed from multiple locations but I was shooting for the observation area next to the Castile entrance. As I drove toward my goal I noticed a car pulled off to the side of the road. When I was even with the car I caught the view of the gorge and quickly changed my plan.

The car was another photographer who was more of an early bird than me. He was already set up and his camera was taking a time-lapse sequence. We exchanged good mornings and I went about getting a few images. As you can see in the image, there was a few low clouds near the base of the gorge and the sky was on fire. This view justified the early morning alarm and the three hour drive.

I posted on a few of my social media sites a quick phone image of this view but it did not do it any justice. I’ll be posting more as I process the “keepers” from my early morning excursion to the Grand Canyon of the East.

  

MLCreations Photography: Letchworth &emdash; Hangin' Low

Hangin’ Low
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1s, 20mm, f/11, ISO 200

Tree of Life

Posted by Mike on

Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World

As much as I wanted to stay in bed, I knew my opportunity for early morning pics at the Animal Kingdom park would be worth dragging my butt out into the day. The park has been having Extra Magic Hours one hour before the normal park opening. Anyone staying at a WDW resort can enter the park during the extra time.

Either, not many people were taking advantage of this hour or I was incredibly lucky. I arrived right at 8am, and was through security and into the park by 8:05am. I ran around Discovery Island, as the majority of guests scrambled to Pandora and the Flight of Passage ride, grabbing as many images as I could with barely another person in sight. It was glorious…

  

MLCreations Photography: Animal Kingdom &emdash; Tree of Life

Tree of Life
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/100s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

 

Bellamy in Orange

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor Park, Rome, NY

After spending a few days in California for work (without my camera) I needed to get my photography fix on. Saturday morning was looking like I might be able to find a sunrise. Even though Mother Nature has been teasing us with Spring it was still only 30 degrees out by the time the sun was suppose to debut. I headed over to Bellamy Harbor Park in Rome to get a glimpse of the morning color. I was not disappointed. Here is Bellamy in Orange…

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Bellamy in Orange

Bellamy in Orange
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.5s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 64, 5 image pano

 

Sliding Through

Posted by Mike on

Union Station, Utica, NY

Sliding Through – Portfolio Blog

The warming temperatures of Spring always bring the muddy browns to any landscape photography efforts until the green starts to fight its way to the surface. This always has me trying to be a little more creative with my sunrise/sunset images. Saturday morning I thought I would try the train station down in Utica. I was lucky!

A couple of freight trains passed through the station while I was there. They provided some interesting opportunities. This East bound train came into the station as I was on the walkway above the tracks. It is always difficult photographing through a window and doubly so when shooting toward the rising sun. I loved the fact I was able to capture the locomotives slightly blurred as they slowly rolled through the station.

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Sliding Through

Sliding Through
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/4s, 16mm, f/11, ISO 200

 

Rising Lighthouse

Posted by Mike on

Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

Rising Lighthouse – Portfolio Blog

When I go to Walt Disney World it is not always about the theme parks. There are amazing areas throughout the property and some of the best theming occurs at the resorts. The first time I stayed at the Beach Club I fell in love with the Crescent Lake area. To this day I can still find enjoyment exploring around the lake. A particular favorite subject of my photography is the Yacht Club lighthouse. I can always capture a beautiful sunrise or sunset that includes this iconic structure. This is one of those sunrises…

  

MLCreations Photography: Around WDW &emdash; Rising Lighthouse

Rising Lighthouse
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, {1/10, 1/20 & 1/40s bracket}, 18mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

Come Sit With Me

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor Park

Come Sit With Me – Portfolio Blog

It might not be the most exciting place in the world, heck, it is a little “harbor” at the bottom of Rome, NY, but in the quiet hours of the morning it can be a very beautiful place to be. I remember when the city added the benches on this side of the park. Not many people venture across the pedestrian bridge. If you do though, you are rewarded with a scene like this.

Sit. Enjoy the morning. Listen… only the sound of water flowing over the spillway. Relax. The day is young…

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Come Sit With Me

Come Sit With Me
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 40s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200