It was a subzero sunrise this a.m. Albeit only by a degree, it was enough to bite your exposed fingertips and slap you in the face. The camera bared most of the cold atop the tripod just outside my toasty warm car. You can see that Jupiter and Venus have ventured significantly closer to one another.
Nikon D700 | ISO 200 | 16mm | f/7.1 | 6 seconds
I forgot my spotlight this a.m. that I use to aid in obtaining a focal point. I ended up with a short and out-of-focus time lapse sequence. It is still a bit interesting; especially the steam rising off the opening in the ice.
The conditions were favorable and I was able to get home at a reasonable enough time to get out and enjoy a midweek sunset. Maiden Rock, WI is another favorite spot; mostly for sunsets given the angle of sunrise throughout the year not being as favorable in this location. There are typically large ice heaves just off the shore, but not this year. Plenty of cracks and other interesting designs in the ice though.
Fellow photog, Jeff Marcus, joined me this beautiful afternoon. We had the beach all to ourselves this fine January afternoon.
The ice on Lake Pepin was smooth and had no snow cover. There were a handful of ice fishermen trying their and people ice skating too all over the bay.
Nikon D700 | ISO 200 | 16mm | f/11 | 1/160 secondNikon D700 | ISO 200 | 16mm | f/11 | 1/60 second
That was definitely the case this cold January morning. It was just under 30 degrees, but the 5 mph breeze out of the east (across a huge sheet of ice) made it seem significantly colder. It was mostly cloudy upon arrival and after a bit, there was only a hint of color on the horizon; them boom! The color came. And just like that the color was gone just as quickly as it appeared. It was a fleeting moment of spectacular color.
Some moments are nice, some are nicer, some are even worth photographing in the cold January weather.
Here are three frames captured 40 minutes apart.
D700 | ISO 200 | f/7.1 | 4 seconds | 16 mm
D700 | ISO 200 | f/7.1 | 1/20 second | 16 mm
D700 | ISO 200 | f/7.1 | 1/30 second | 16 mm
A 4 second clip that encompasses those 40 minutes.
I am really happy with both the vertical and horizontal panorama shots.
Mavic 2 Pro | ISO 100 | f/3.5 | 1/20 seconds | 10.26 mm | 7 Frames
Mavic 2 Pro | ISO 100 | f/3.5 | 1/20 seconds | 10.26 mm | 7 Frames
I shot my first automated drone 360 sphere this morning. The images looks interesting.
Mavic 2 Pro 360 sphere
After a bit of manipulation in Photoshop – viola. Sunrise-o-sphere.
360 sphere
EXTRA
Out low across the ice and back high
Bay City Campground
Here is an aerial view of Bay City Campground.
A shot of two fellow photog friends capturing the sunrise this a.m.
After shooting sunrise in Bay City Friday morning and heading further down river to Maiden Rock chasing the sunrise, I went to a favorite spot of mine close by to explore it from a whole new perspective. I have many fond memories of Pine Creek as child. There was a pretty amazing restoration project in this area and the recreation area open to the public is very nice. Here is an article about the Pine Creek Project from August 2018.
Mavic 2 Pro| ISO 100 | f/2.8| 1/640 seconds | 10.26 mm | 5 FramesMavic 2 Pro| ISO 100 | f/2.8| 1/640 seconds | 10.26 mm | 7 Frames
The views directly overhead were pretty great. Love capturing this new point of view.
After shooting sunrise in Bay City Friday morning, I headed further down river to Maiden Rock. I made it there just in time to see the sun rising over the bluffs. The sunlight warmed up the blue-cold landscape instantly creating a lovely scene.
Mavic 2 Pro | ISO 100 | f/5 | 1/640 seconds | 10.26 mm
Maiden Rock Panoramas
Mavic 2 Pro| ISO 100 | f/5 | 1/640 seconds | 10.26 mm | 7 FramesMavic 2 Pro | ISO 100 | f/4.5 | 1/640 seconds | 10.26 mm | 9 FramesMavic 2 Pro| ISO 100 | f/3.2 | 1/640 seconds | 10.26 mm | 5 FramesMavic 2 Pro| ISO 100 | f/3.2 | 1/640 seconds | 10.26 mm | 8 Frames
Bay City Beauty – I never tire of the beauty of this shoreline, this bay, the bluffs and the sunrises that happen here. Another work gone and an early morning spent marveling at the palette of colors mother nature painted the sky with today.
D700 ISO 200 | f/10 | 4 seconds | 16 mm
D700 ISO 200 | f/10 | 1 seconds | 16 mm
D700 ISO 200 | f/10 | 1/160 seconds | 16 mm
It was also another opportunity to practice drone photography. I’ve always leaned toward portrait orientation in my photography, but I am really liking the result of the vertical [portrait orientation] panoramic images from the drone.
Mavic 2 Pro| ISO 100 | f/6.3 | 1/25 seconds | 10.26 mm | 7 Frames
When I arrived at my favorite sunrise location this a.m. the sky was quite clear; so clear that you could see Jupiter (bottom) and Venus (top) easily next to the silhouette of the tree.
D700 ISO 200 | f/7.1 | 25 seconds | 17 mm
January starts out with Venus shining above Jupiter in the morning sky, yet the month ends with Jupiter shining above Venus. Day by day, Jupiter climbs upward, away from the sunrise, while Venus sinks downward, toward the rising sun. The two will meet for a conjunction in the morning sky on January 22, 2019. ~EarthSky.org
As the morning progressed the clouds cooperated wonderfully even though a completely clear sky was in the forecast for this morning. This morning started out like most other mornings at this particular location, but the situation changed dramatically. The new perspective is courtesy of a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone I received for Christmas from the best wife ever.
I am pretty happy with the results given this was my third flight and first ever attempt at shooting the sunrise with a drone. The shots are a titch grainy given ISO 400 . The vertical panorama is my favorite drone photo of the day. This morning without a doubt spawned an enthusiasm for drone photography that will not likely subside any time soon.
Horizontal Panorama
Mavic 2 Pro| ISO 400 | f/9 | 1/60 seconds | 10.26 mm | 7 Frames
Vertical Panorama
Mavic 2 Pro| ISO 400 | f/9 | 1/60 seconds | 10.26 mm | 12 Frames
I am finding that even though I am not experiencing ideal conditions for sunrise, nature always provides a beautiful canvas. When the pre-sunrise color isn’t there, the subtly of the clouds provides a focal point. The waning crescent moon was also shining bright this morning and added a nice touch to the frame.
EXTRA
On the drive home I ran into a herd of Wild Turkeys.
A landscape photographers constant wish is just the right amount of clouds to make the scene interesting. When that happens, consider yourself fortunate. Today was not one of those days. The scene that can unfold can still be beautiful…if you wait for it. The skies could not have been any more clear or bright.
Just like sunrises with the best color coming before hand, so goes sunsets with rich color happening after the set.
It took a few minutes after sunset for the color to change and pop.
