Barge Canal at Bellamy Harbor Park
Canal East
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/20s, 44mm, f/11, ISO 200
Canal East
Category Archives: sunrise
Bellamy Harbor Morning
Bellamy Harbor, Rome, NY
As I was driving through Rome on my way to work yesterday morning I felt a constant pull of the rising sun. Officially, sun rise had not occurred but the colors in the Eastern sky were calling me. It didn’t surprise me when the car turned right and I drove to Bellamy Harbor.
It is a favorite destination of mine, especially when there are a few low hanging clouds to catch the changing colors. There is a small parking area on the Western side of the park and an area near the canal gates that lets you see the whole park. I setup the tripod and grab a familiar view.
Once I stop and actually look around I notice the moon and Venus in the morning sky. Well, I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away from me. I try a capture in portrait orientation which allows me to zoom in a little and get the celestial objects in the frame. This highlights the colors in the sky and water but the focus feels too narrow to me. I switch back to a landscape orientation and grab another capture. Although this puts the moon a lot smaller in the frame the scale feels better to me.
The last thought I have is to do a panoramic view of the entire harbor. I’ve done this a number of times from this spot at the harbor. I can’t help myself, I set the camera back to portrait orientation and adjust the tripod so the head stays level while I rotate it. To get the sequence right it is best to switch to manual mode on your camera. Find the mid-point of the dynamic range and adjust your exposure. It takes seven images to capture the whole of the harbor.
I like how the pano will turn out. I can see it already, even before I process everything. There will be a transition from left to right from a darker, almost night image to a colorful sunrise image. The change from night to day in one view. I wasn’t disappointed once I created the panoramic…
Harbor Color
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.6s, 23mm, f/11, ISO 200
Venus and the Moon
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.3s, 19mm, f/11, ISO 200
Harbor Sky
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.3s, 13mm, f/11, ISO 200
Slowly Rises
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.6s, 15mm, f/11, ISO 200
Bellamy at Both Ends
Bellamy Harbor Park
Yesterday was supposed to be my trip to Ithaca, NY to explore a few of my favorite state parks. Luckily, before I headed out on my adventure I checked the state park website for each park and realized most of my favorite trails were closed. Taughannock Falls trails were open but I didn’t want to spend the two hour drive for only one park. I will be patient and wait until I can make a day of it in Ithaca.
With the change in my plans I quickly ran down to Bellamy Harbor Park for the sunrise… totally worth it! The trees are showing more of their green each day and the few clouds from the approaching rain caught the morning colors perfectly. I wish the water was a little smoother but at least the center caught the reflection of the Mill St. bridge.
Apparently my luck was not to improve. My grand plan for the sunset was to return to the Utica Marsh. I knew my normal trail into the area has been neglected over the years but I thought I had another way in. I failed to notice the bridge I planned to use had been blocked off by the city of Utica. I still think there is a way but last night I didn’t want to waste the sunset searching.
I drove back to Rome and parked at Bellamy Harbor Park figuring I could bookend my day at a familiar location. Mother Nature did not disappoint, she put on quite a show before sunset. I crossed the Mill St. bridge and captured the sunset from across the canal. The water was very smooth and the reflection of the clouds totally highlights Bellamy Harbor Park. I’d say my earlier misfortune was erased by this sunset…
G’morning Bellamy
Olympus E-M1 Mark II , M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.6s, 31mm, f/11, ISO 200
Highlighting Bellamy
Olympus E-M1 Mark II , M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200
Working Canal
Barge Canal – Lock 20
Another morning venturing into the darkness in search of the sunrise. My adventure was not as fruitful as the previous day due to a lack of clouds in the sky. The clouds add the drama and enhance the interest better than a sky without them. They are also very good at capturing the morning colors as the sun marches toward the horizon.
I did spend time exploring the staging area around Lock 20 for the equipment used in maintaining the canal. I was amazed at the volume stored around the lock. I guess the canal authority has not yet begun maintenance after the winter season. At least it allowed me to capture some close-up images.
The first image is looking East along the canal toward Lock 20 from the Rt. 291 overpass. The view from the bridge has been a favorite over the years. Timing the position of the sunrise is always important. Currently the sun is rising a little to far North of the canal for a typical sunrise for me.
The second image is a floating crane. It is parked at the entrance to the lock. Someday I’ll time it right to actually see a vessel going through the lock. The last image is a pair tugs waiting to be placed back into service. I’m sure they don’t like to be out of the water.
Working Canal
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 3.2s, 40mm, f/11, ISO 100
SPS-52
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/4s, 18mm, f/11, ISO 100
Working Canal
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/8s, 23mm, f/11, ISO 100
Moving In
Bellamy Harbor Park
I did something a little out of the ordinary for me yesterday. Well, at least something different in this work from home environment we are currently living in. Generally I am online for work by 6am, but yesterday morning I was itching for a sunrise image. The urge was especially strong once I noticed the approaching clouds.
I finished the first cup of coffee while posting my latest image, filled the travel mug with the remainder, grabbed the camera bag and headed down to Bellamy Harbor Park. The clouds were moving in fast. I setup the tripod on the edge of the wall supporting the barge canal flow control gates. It is my go to spot at the harbor as it allows the widest view of the park and it appears as though the camera is in the middle of the canal.
I still made it back home in time to be online at my normal hour but I was energized for the day. I think getting out into the morning air, even if it is to drive to work, gets everything going for me. It is what has been lacking while I am sequestered in my apartment riding out this pandemic storm.
Time to get dressed and do it again today…
Moving In
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mmm f/2.8, 4s, 16mm, f/16, ISO 64
Railroad Street
Rome, NY
Railroad Street
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.4s, 35mm, f/11, ISO 200
Awake!
Bellamy Harbor Park
Awake!
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 4s, 26mm, f/16, ISO100
Playing the Blues
Hinckley Reservoir
This would be the first image I captured yesterday at Hinckley Reservoir. I love how the color palette changes as the sun approaches the horizon. The time difference between the photos is about twenty-five minutes. Definitely less magenta in the sky…
Playing the Blues
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 5s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 400
MLCreations Photography 