Saturday morning I finally got off my butt and headed out for the sunrise at Bellamy Harbor. There might not have been as many clouds in the sky as I would have preferred, but the colors were a beautiful consolation prize. These three images are from the same location all within a minute of each other, the only difference being the amount of zoom I used. There is a subtle shift in the colors as less of the blue sky is included in the view.
Blue Hour Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 2s, 27mm, f/11, ISO 100
The Harbor Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.6s, 42mm, f/11, ISO 100
Zoomin’ In Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.6s, 60mm, f/11, ISO 100
It has been a long week. New head honcho at work. Upcoming audit. General craziness.
So, when I headed to work Friday morning and saw there was fog permeating the city, I didn’t make that left turn. I drove down to the Bellamy Harbor. The sun had already risen and the golden light was illuminating the park through the haze.
I was losing the race though, as the sky was clearing quicker than I could get to my “go-to” spot. Still, it was a beautiful morning and any image would be different than I normally capture. Typically, my sunrise images are of the colors prior to the sun making an appearance.
I was able to get an image with the sun shrouded in the haze and peeking over the trees. I stopped down my aperture to f/14 (the sweet spot of my lens is f/8 to f/11) so the sunburst would be enhanced. I only captured a few images but was positive I grabbed a winner.
Time to get to work…
Time to Wake Up Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/125s, 33mm, f/14, ISO 100
I suppose it is time for something that isn’t Disney related. It has been a week since I returned from my trip. I wish I could say I have been busy creating new images, but this morning was my first opportunity to get out with the camera. I wonder if a whole week off from work is actually a vacation?
Although sunrise was full of clouds I wanted to capture a few landscape images that were not muddy looking. It feels like we have pushed past the winter melt portion of spring into the everything is green and new. As much as I love “naked” trees, having them full leaves is wonderful.
Collecting Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 5s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 100
Cloudy Blues Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.6s, 39mm, f/11, ISO 100
Blue Harbor Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.3s, 70mm, f/11, ISO 100
Small Falls Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 2s, 32mm, f/11, ISO 100
Cloudy Start Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1s, 70mm, f/16, ISO 100
Yes, now get moving. The sun is easy but the early morning light is better. I don’t want to miss it.
There was rain in the forecast and I hoped there would be a few clouds in the sky. I guessed right! I parked near the Mill St. bridge at Bellamy Harbor as I wanted to explore as much as possible while the morning blue hour changed with the rising of the sun.
Come on! Let’s see what I found.
Light Up the Morning Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.3s, 30mm, f/8, ISO 100
This section of the park is fantastic during the morning. The color in the sky contrasts wonderfully with the green grass and the glow from the lights adds some interesting patterns. You can see the weather front approaching from the southeast.
With the lights still on I wanted to get the image I missed the last time I was at the park in the morning. From the edge of the bridge over the canal, I can get the water tower against the morning sky with one of the lights in the foreground.
Nailed it!
Tower Lights Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 2.5s, 40mm, f/8, ISO 100
Time to head to the opposite end of the park before the clouds cover too much of the sky. I do love the view looking down the canal. Walk or drive? Don’t be lazy, there is plenty of time, walk!
Before I get to the other side I couldn’t resist this view of the park with the lights along the canal. The mood in this view is completely different. The color is all in the east and looking west is dominated by blues. The only offset is the yellow/orange glow from the lights. Plus, when have I ignored a good reflection.
Um, never!
Harbor Lights Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 3s, 43mm, f/9, ISO 100
I reach my favorite spot and start composing my image. Choices? The color is more to the left than I would like but I’m not a fan of what I would need to include in the view. I obviously want to keep the steel structure bridge (Mill St.) in the picture. Oh, and the lights again, of course. I want the reflection but not enjoying the bright orange buoy in the canal. If I do this view… maybe…
Not the best but it works for this morning…
Harbor Glow Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.5s, 38mm, f/11, ISO 100
OK. Those are the main images I wanted to capture. Now walk around and see what else catches your eye. You’re in no hurry to get back home. Enjoy this time of solitude.
Those damn reflections again. The canal is perfectly still. Not the best sky. Maybe a monochrome image would work. Whatever, click the shutter before something disturbs the water.
Right, got it…
Reflection of Mill St. Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.6s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 100
As you can see, I decided not to process this one as a monochrome image. I liked it, but the blues and greens in this one work for me. Who knows, maybe I will eventually convert it and post a different version.
Sunrise! But the sun is still behind the low clouds. Definitely changing the color in the sky. One more of the water tower? Isolate the tower and use the color as a backdrop. There. Nice!
General Cable Renewed Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/8s, 70mm, f/11, ISO 100
The rain eventually came and lasted most of the day. Not a problem. I had plenty of other things to occupy my time after this great start to the day.
So far, today is looking pretty good. Maybe I’ll head over to the sculpture garden for a walk…
Thursday evening was good time to explore Bellamy Harbor Park. Well, I suppose explore isn’t the correct term considering how many times I go to the park with the camera. I know all the good spots for images. It depends on the lighting conditions and what I’m in the mood to capture. Maybe I should say explore the light at the park.
Anyway, enough of that short ramble…
There were clouds approaching from the East and I was anticipating a little drama in the sky for the sunset. When you include the orange glow from the sun conditions were ripe for a few good images. The wonderful result of the clouds is varying colors depending on looking West or East…
Bridge Alight Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/100s, 31mm, f/8, ISO 100
Orange Glow Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/80s, 34mm, f/11, ISO 100
Tower Light Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/8s, 53mm, f/11, ISO 100
The forecast was not looking good for the morning. A weather alert about low visibility due to fog had me thinking I would not get a sunrise image. As the time for the sun arrived I had a thought, why not images of the fog? I started thinking on ways to process the images, obviously they would be monochrome, and of course it had to be down at Bellamy Harbor Park.
Get dressed!
On it. Camera ready?
Yes! Silly question…
Off I went into the early morning to Bellamy Harbor for “sunrise” images. It was a good decision. There was no sun and I could see the fog coming up the canal. I looked for images with contrast that would process well as monochrome. You can see how the fog increased as the morning progressed. These are in chronological order…
Approaching Mood Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 0.5s, 21mm, f/11, ISO 200
Boat House & Tower Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/3s, 25mm, f/11, ISO 200
Duck Parade Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/20s, 75mm, f/8, ISO 200
Harbor Obscure Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/5s, 16mm, f/11, ISO 200
Light Tower Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/15s, 86mm, f/11, ISO 200
It was the night of the full moon. OK, not until 11:38pm. And yes, we all know I would be sleeping at that time. It didn’t stop me from going to Bellamy Harbor to look for images.
I waited until the sun had set and thought I might find an image with the moon rising. Until then, I walked around the park pointing my camera at everything. I was a little surprised at the number of people still enjoying the park.
There was plenty of color in the sky so I had to get an image from the Mill St. bridge.
The Harbor Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1.6s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 100
The grand view of the harbor and park is good but I wanted something a little more “intimate”. Wait, is that right for a landscape image? Oh well, I gave it a try…
The Low View Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 2s, 25mm, f/11, ISO 100
Enough of the standard views, how about something different. One with the bridge. That might work, the angle can be a little tough but I have confidence in you…
Mill St. Bridge Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 4s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 200
The light is fading, the sky is getting darker. The full moon is going to be bright. Think! The water tower? Maybe. Go give it a look…
Hide ‘n Seek Moon Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 2.5s, 34mm, f/5.6, ISO 400
There are images all around, you only have to look. It was a great night at the harbor…
MLCreations Photography 