Peaceful Awakenings
Sometimes, when I’ve been away from something for a while, I forget how much I enjoyed it in the first place. It’s been a long time since I got up before dawn, headed out to where I wanted to shoot, set up, and waited. This morning, I almost got it right.
I was planning to arrive before Civil Twilight, but timed it a bit wrong. I actually arrived near the end, some 30 minutes off target. I had to hustle along. I had planned to shoot in this area, the Yadkin Dam, but had not done my usual reconnoitering. Usually, before shooting in a new place, I take my camera and compass and find out where the sun will rise and set and take a few snapshots to get an idea of what I might ‘expect’. This morning, I had no clue. I didn’t know which direction the river ran, where the sun would come up. I knew nothing.
My first shot of the morning: 7:12 AM
When I got there, it was about 10 minutes before sunrise. I had a to find a place quickly, set up, and begin shooting. I could have arrived sooner, but, as I was crossing the bridge of the Yadkin River , there was early dawn light, water, fog, trees, and silhouettes. I had to stop and take a few shots there. Those few shots cost me about 15 minutes. 
Everything turned out just fine, though. I was shooting down the river, the sun was coming up downriver, and as the sun rose, the fog moved upriver. It was a perfect morning. As a special treat, I even saw an eagle this morning. I didn’t get a good picture, though, because I had my camera on manual focus since I was shooting into fog. By the time I saw him, got my camera pointed in the right direction and started to take pictures, I didn’t have time to go to auto focus. Oh well. I’ll catch him next time!
Even though I was in somewhat of a hurried state, sitting there in the quiet, hearing the call of the herons and egrets and not much else, I remembered why I love to get up early, go out, and be the only one around as my little corner of the earth awakens to start a new day!
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6 Responses to “Oh! Now I remember!!!”
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That first photo with the heron silhouette before the fog is unbelievable! Really, really beautiful! For that shot alone, getting up early was a real success. You only have some sensor-dirt in the picture – in the lower right corner. Looks nearly like a “C” in a circle…
both shots are nice, but I especially love the first one.
From the photo’s I would say you did get it “right” even if it wasn’t exactly as you planned.
Be as the water and flow with the moment…right?
Earl, as usual, you are correct!!!
I was certainly not disappointed in the least. Everything worked out exactly as it should have! I was as the water! 
Beautiful shot for that first one Paul. I am sucker for fog. The hint of trees at the top is a nice touch. For me I really need to explore other times during the day other than dawn. It just seems to conveniently fit the day’s activities if I can get out before sunrise, back a few hours afterward – and have the rest of the day open. Of course, it usually means I need an afternoon nap then!
These photo’s illustrate the rewards that come to a early riser. Great shots! I know that I was still sleeping when they were taken but they do provide encouragement to get up.