Delta Lake State Park
You have to be in the environment to capture the landscape. This thought ran through my head last evening as I waited for the sun to reach that perfect distance from the horizon. I have been making more of an effort to haul my lazy butt out of the house and it is paying off in image possibilities.
When I started my photography journey I was out exploring every free minute. I was learning, experimenting, trying new things. Now that I know everything… LOL, I have become complacent. Normal thoughts that have run through my mind…
- doesn’t look like it will be a good sunrise/sunset
- I’ve captured that view before
- I’ve done a lot of… lately
- it’s a long drive to get there, what if…
- maybe later
This week I have been changing the status quo. I have ventured out into the pre-dawn morning, energizing myself for the workday. I have been driving to familiar locations for the sunset, on the off chance it will be worth seeing. You have to be in the environment to capture the landscape.
There was a better than normal chance the clouds would roll in and obscure the sunset last night. I still went to Delta Lake. It was so worth it! I spent the hour before the sun reached the horizon capturing long exposure images. I had my ten-stop ND filter on and was happy capturing 15-20 second exposures around the lake (more on those in a later post).
The park was practically empty and there was barely any breeze. As the sun approached its ideal location I staked out my spot, setup the tripod and waited for the show. This image is one I would have missed if I was still listening to that little lazy voice in my head…
…as the sun goes down
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/15s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 100
MLCreations Photography 
Stunning! I am really missing scenes like this!!
Thanks Dave.
This was so appropriate this morning. Did you see the moon come up last night? I checked on line to see when it would be setting, 6:30 a.m. or so…and told my husband I was getting up early and driving to a local park which has a big hill without trees, to take pictures of it setting. Figured I needed to be out there before 6 or it would be too light. Well, this morning I didn’t want to get up so I didn’t. Dog got me up at 6 for breakfast, and out the window was this big golden moon setting into the branches of my trees. No time to go to the park, was kicking myself. And then I opened this up and knew the truth as do you…you have to get out there to get the shot. I DID run outside (camera was already on the tripod from my attempt the night before) and grabbed a couple shots, with the moon behind the branches. I’m going to look at those shortly. Might be something interesting. But I really truly should have gotten out to the park. The moon was absolutely stunning this morning.
I realized what I wrote was what I have been doing for quite a while. I told myself no more. It’s hard to do though, so I have to keep reminding myself.
BTW – I missed the moon rise but went to Delta Lake for the moon setting. Pictures will be posted tomorrow.
Pingback: Should have | Change Is Hard
Pingback: Color on Glass | Picture Day