Have you ever challenged yourself to love a sunlight view of life that doesn’t fit into your normal circadian rhythm? I’ve always loved sunsets, but I’m a morning person, and sunrises are my preferred time of day.
I have way more energy at that time, and while I’m fueled with a cup of coffee, I’m ready to investigate the world as it wakes up with me. I adore morning lighting for photography.
After many years of having a gorgeous sunrise view out my front doorstep, it’s being obstructed by a shed the new neighbor is building. It is taking him forever to complete it, so I was thinking…maybe it wasn’t going to be that bad after all. I’ve been able to get a few gorgeous shots this summer. Depending upon where I stood and how I angled the camera, I could avoid the ugly shed in the photos.
This past weekend, he started to add onto the shed to make it even bigger. He’s going to extend it out into the open area where the sunrise normally glows for my view. Grr…(yeah, I’m a creeper, documented the horror of it all).
But, it is what it is, and I’m working through my emotions. I’m learning to fall in love with sunsets instead.
Great photographers say that the golden hour of the day is a splendid time to take photos. I agree, especially when the sunset is sprinkled with backlit clouds as they appear here in Wisconsin skies. Subtle signs of cool air as our changing seasons appear.
Bring on sweatshirts and jeans and warm blankets for me! I love the fall, it’s perfect cuddling weather. And the cool air makes for sunsets with gorgeous dancing clouds.
I’m not ready for the winter snow yet. I’m hoping for a long fall this year so I can enjoy the colorful trees in our backyard view. And I’m hoping to learn more about capturing photos during the evening hours instead of the morning ones. Yay, go me…!
I ventured out the other night to see what I could see (instead of falling asleep in the chair after dinner…). It was a calm evening, which is rare in our parts – the wind usually causes major blurs to my photos!
Calm winds make the pampas grass an interesting subject for me. I adore the white color of it, and when it is backlit with the sunset, it’s a fun challenge to see if I can capture the details of each blade. I took my right out of the box, tried and true camera – no special lens that night with me on this adventure. It’s my go-to camera. I love how comfortable I’ve become with my trusty friend.
The pampas grass didn’t thrive as well as I hoped it would this year. The damn rascal gophers and moles did a number in the ground in the corner where it grows. It got a late start and then the cornfield blocked the light for it to grow tall. What sprouts that did grow will help it spread for next year. (I hope!)
I’m always amazed at how this delicate feather-like grass can withstand the winds. But it does, it’s stronger than it looks.
Even without my zoom lens, it was fun to capture close up shots of it in the stillness of the evening light.
Cropped it a bit, and something so tiny and delicate can look darn big don’t you think?
Maybe next time, I’ll try a different lens! Oh, my, after looking at the possibilities of this lighting, I’m falling in love with the golden hour of the evening! Cheers to learning something new!
Post inspiration – Dutch Goes The Photo – Go Big and Nancy Merrill’s Photo Challenge – From the Back.
PS – Which photo would you have chosen for the feature one? Do you like the ones with more blades of grass or the cropped photos? Are you a sunrise or sunset or both kind of person? I used ISO 400 for these photos, was that the right choice?
Great photos!
Thank you, Paula!
Ms Shelley, your photographs are beautiful. I haven’t really explored many Golden Hour photographs since my photographic love is around three in the morning. Love these shots. g
Thank you, g! I appreciate your feedback and encouragement. You’re brave to venture out at 3:00 am – but then again you do get some pretty mysterious shots at that time! I’m up at then, just wondering why I’m not sleeping…hmm…I’ll sleep on the idea of getting up to capture some photos!?!
Those are great Shelley! Early morning is very special. Although I’m almost never up early enough for a sunrise anymore. But I’m thinking that at least it is going UP, away from the buildings instead of DOWN past the buildings. Houses are being built here in this neighborhood and they’re intruding on MY horizon. Ha! Thankfully, we’re on the highest spot in the area. It’s interesting to see how far the sunset goes from SW to NW through the months. It’s started back towards the south now.
Aw, thanks! I appreciate hearing your take on sunrises and sunsets. It is amazing how the sun moves across the sky over the seasons. Always another view to capture! You did a great job catching shots on your Pastel post!! WOW – beautiful!
Beautiful sunset shots Shelley, ISO 400 creates a lovely soft effect in the colours :o)
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback!!
Lovely photos. Bummer about the neighbor’s shed. Didn’t he have to ask your permission first if he was blocking your view?
Thank you. No, LOL – he forgot to ask me! 😉
Loved all the photos but the last one is a favorite, sun hiding behind the grass. I love both sunrises and sunsets, there is something magical about them. Have a great week.
Thank you, Anita. I agree – both times of the day are magical! Hope you’re having a great week! Happy Blogging to you 🙂
I am also a morning person and I love the light at sunrise and sunset. I rarely get to stop and enjoy them in the fall and winter. I’m usually in the middle of commuting to/from work.
The very first image was my favourite.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feedback, Khurt – much appreciated! Hope you’re able to enjoy the sunrises and sunsets on your days off from commuting!
Nice shots there. The neighbour behind us has an absolutely massive old growth tree (probably protected by the city). It’s nature, but it almost totally blocks my view of the water of the Burrard Inlet https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrard_Inlet . I guess I shouldn’t complain because I do have mountain views, but I’d still like to see the water.
Thank you. I can see why you’d want to see the view and not just the tree. You also have gorgeous mountains to look at, I just have trees. It’s nice to hear about other views, so I appreciate you sharing your thoughts, thank you!
Every time I read your blog, I am inspired to try to be a better photographer. I did take some pics of flowers in my yard, and got a good one of a spider that I used in a recent post, but I usually get my pictures for posts off Pixabay. I guess that’s lazy! Yours always look so good!
Aw, thank you, glad to encouraging the photographer in you! Your pictures turned out great, and that spider…OMG! She’s a big one, and that’s a great shot you got! Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts!
Beautiful images, Shelley! I haven´t explored the golden hours too much, and I really should, honestly. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed them. Happy exploring to you!
More the light, more possibilities and hope for a brighter world. Whether through sunshine or a spark within ourselves, light is plays an important role in shaping up our lives and our world.
Yes, so very true. Thank you for sharing your insight, I appreciate hearing from you.