Sunrise

Peter walks to work

Texas Hill Country

Peter finds his spot to photograph...

...and I found mine

Peter and I are in Fredericksburg, Texas for the opening of his show with Marc Hanson and Dan Beck at RS Hanna Gallery. We got up early this morning to photograph the sunrise. The landscape here is beautiful and so different from home. Yesterday, we went out scouting and marked a few interesting spots in the GPS so we would have a destination or two for this morning.

Those spots didn't work out as well as we had hoped, but along the way we found this open field with the rising sun breaking through the early morning fog. It lasted just a moment and was gone. As Peter would say, truly magical. I'm so happy we were there to see it.

Island Watching

You have to be there to see it: Before sunset

You have to be there to see it: Before sunrise

Sunrise

Along the McDade Trail in the DWGNRA

Sunrise Over the Delaware

Sunrise 6:26

Sunrise 6:44

Peter and I have been exploring a new location along the Delaware -- close to home so we get to sleep in a little. On this morning, a couple of weeks ago, we were lucky to catch an amazing sunrise and setting moon. The light changes quickly and it did not disappoint.

Sorry It's been a while since I've posted. My computer was choking on all of my photos.

Happy New Year!

First light of the new year, over the Delaware River

Sunrise 6:08

On the Delaware, looking towards Port Jervis, NY

I went out early this morning to turn on the air conditioners for the workshop and was blown away by the sunrise. I stopped on the road and took this photo from the car. I haven't seen a sunrise in a while and I miss the feeling of being awake to witness something so extrodinary. Peter and I need to get up early and get back out there photographing -- maybe this fall when it is cooler we'll be more motivated.

Before the Sunrise

Peter's morning meeting, 6:41 am

After some debate, we crawled out of our warm bed to go photograph the sunrise this morning, actually the pre-sunrise. It was hard getting up, I'm not much of a morning person, but I know that it is always worth the effort.

Peter usually visits this favorite field at sunset when the warm light of the setting sun lights up the distant trees and field. He wondered what it would look like with a pre-dawn sky behind it. This morning, we were not disappointed.

Delaware River Sunrise

6:56 AM

7:36 AM

Reflection

Delaware River

Sunrise

Paul and Lisa photographing from the Milford Bridge

Lisa and Paul are home for the weekend. We were up very early this morning to go out photographing. Our original destination was teaming with hunters, so we raced away looking for a new location to catch the sunrise. As we crossed the Delaware River and headed into New Jersey, the sun was just starting to break. Peter stayed with the car as Lisa, Paul and I headed out onto the bridge to watch the sunrise unfold. It was cold, beautiful and well worth getting up to see.

Sunrise Trip, Warwick NY

It was a spectacular sunrise this morning

Our destination

A chance meeting with landscape photographer Nick Zungoli

It was almost a year ago I started this blog with "Sunrise Picture Hunt" at this very spot.

Tuscan View, Three Ways

Early morning light, view from Tizzano

Midday light, view from Tizzano

Sunset, view from Tizzano

Sunrise Picture Hunt

Peter waiting for the light

We were up at 5:30 this morning to catch the sunrise on Wisner Farm in Warwick, NY. Peter made coffee and carefully poured it into the thermos, while I took the dogs out for an early morning walk. By six, we were out the door, a little sleepy, but ready to go picture hunting. Peter had already scouted our destination on several occasions, but the light was never quite right. Always in the afternoon, the bright light of the setting sun behind the white barn wasn't interesting him. He photographed some other barns and a small stream running through the open fields, but he knew that if he could come back at sunrise, the barn, illuminated by the warm morning light, would be perfectly carved out from the distant treeline and sky. It would be magical.

It took a couple of weeks from when his cousin Gary first suggested the location to when we were finally there on a cold February morning; 12 degrees to be exact. We had waited for the weather and life to cooperate and it was finally the right time. 35 minutes after leaving home, I waited in the car while Peter got his camera ready, mounting it to a monopod to steady his camera in the low light. I drank coffee and occasionally rolled down the window to check on him and take his photo. He took a few photos of the barn, surrounding Fields and me napping (briefly) as the dawn light changed subtly from cool blues to peach and lavender.

7:07 was the official sunrise time, we had looked it up the night before. The farm was in a valley and we we waited for the sun to come. 7:10... 7:15... 7:20... The land around us was beautiful and quiet as we waited for the sun to break over the distant hill -- the sky and cool snow covered fields were similar in color with a subtle band of clouds over the barn. Peter stamped his feet to stay warm. 7:25... a distant hill catches the first rays of sunlight. The anticipation is growing. We both know that in a few minutes, the barn that is so quiet now, will be ablaze in warm oranges, pinks and yellows. The grass that is dark and lifeless, will look like a fire running across the blue snow covered fields. At long last, the sun breaks the top of the hill and the show begins. Peter and I both start photographing.

In less than an hour of arriving at the farm, the light had completely changed. The orange glow of a morning sunrise is so fleeting. Still beautiful, the sun was up and the light already cooler and harder.

On the way home, Peter was jubilant. He reviewed his photos in the back of his camera and said, "I feel like a big-game hunter that just bagged a big one." When we get home, he downloaded his photos and headed straight for the studio. He couldn't wait to get started painting.