Oriskany Creek and Mohawk River
River Street, Oriskany, NY

It was the last day of the holidays/vacation and I was not about to let it slip away as was my penchant last year. After finishing up posting my Delta Day blog and grabbing a quick breakfast, I headed out in search of the sunrise. I was debating my destination internally and adjusting the heading of the car as I observed the morning sky. The lower temperatures this the morning (~12° F) gave me an idea that the rivers/creeks over by the barge canal might hold something interesting.

As I approached the parking area for the barge canal I thought maybe the Oriskany Creek should be my first objective. As the creek winds its way through the lowlands toward the Mohawk River it creates a horseshoe shape at the final approach. I had stopped once before for an image in this same area in the summer of 2015 (Shrouded Sunrise). I have always wanted to get a closer image of the creek.

Today I pushed my timidness aside. I parked the car in the path leading into the corn field, attached the camera to the tripod and strode out across the field toward the edge of the creek. The sun was still about twenty minutes from rising but the colors were exactly what I was looking to capture. The crispness of the morning, the small bits of ice floating by and the layer of ice accumulated on everything combined to create something better than I had envisioned as I walked across the field.

I will be returning to capture this view again this winter. I realized as I pulled into the driveway if I had been able to wait until 15-20 minutes after the scheduled sunrise I would have been rewarded with more color in the sky. That of course would have changed the whole mood of the image. This second mood I have put on my list of images to capture… 🙂

My fingers were slightly numb. I only brought my thin gloves that allow me to work the camera with them on. I was happy with the images I captured, knowing at least one will allow me to create a great picture. I started my way home but when I crossed over the Mohawk River I looked East into the sunrise.

Damn! That is a great view too!

Keep driving, your fingers aren’t warm yet.

You always regret not stopping! What have you said? Next time I’ll stop. Well, it is next time now!

I turned around and parked the car in the area for the barge canal access. I worked my way under the River Street bridge and climbed down into the river so I was right on the water. One slip and I would be very wet and very cold.

A few images in the portrait orientation. They look good.

Wait! What has Bryan Peterson always said… “the best time to shoot in landscape orientation is right after shooting in portrait” (I paraphrase). OK, a couple more in landscape. Now carefully walk back along the river. Whew!

I liked the one in portrait the best.

If you look closely at the vanishing point of the water you will see the winter steam rising off the water. I thought of attaching the zoom lens to capture the phenomena but there was not enough visually interesting elements. Maybe I’ll find that better view next time.