Weekly Photo Challenge – Golden Hour II
“Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.”
George Harrison
Earlier this week my response to Cheri Rowland’s Golden Hour challenge included a number of evening shots from my week in Michigan. Afterwards my blogging friend Tom, of the Palladian Traveler, challenged me to share some work (such as the shot above) from the early morning hour. So, I’ve chosen some favorites from my archives and Tom, this one’s for you! 🙂
“Morning has broken, like the first morning.”
Eleanor Farjeon
In Africa, photography takes place in the earliest morning hours or in the late evening. At mid-day the animals are sleeping and the day is too hot for anything but rest. You can see the morning’s golden sidelight in the warmth of this beautiful creature’s skin.
“Light is precious in a world so dark.”
Kate DeCaillo
The same is true in Cambodia, where the temples of Angkor Wat seem to glow in the early morning hours. The warm hues of the ancient stone come alive with a near other-worldly hues of orange, red and gold. In both places, a 4 am wake-up call is the most difficult part of the day, but is surely worth the effort.
“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.”
Matthew 5:14
Those of you who have been following me for some time will recognize the next two photos. The morning of this shoot it was freezing cold as I ventured out of my warm, cozy “yurt” at 5am. There was no guarantee of a sunrise, as most mornings are cloudy and the mountains are either dark grey or totally obscured. This particular morning we were greeted by brilliant sunlight which changed colors several times before the ever-present clouds closed in once again. It was the only time the sun broke through at sunrise for the next two weeks.
“The sunlight was a benediction.”
Dan Simmons
And speaking of clouds and fog, they are not always a bad thing for the early morning photographer. Our travels in Alaska included many brilliant mornings, and very long beautiful sunsets, but the quiet morning stillness of the shot below made it one of my favorites of the trip.
“The fog was thick and full of light, and sometimes voices.”
Erin Bow
As you can see, although I am not a morning person, I do sometimes rise to the occasion 🙂 In closing, a beach sunrise from my home here on Kiawah, just to let you know that I also do sunrise at home when the mood is right!
“It’s hard to be angry when one has seen the sun rise.”
David Gemmell
To see more Golden Hour entries, click here.
Congratulations for all the photos! The elephant one and the golden ruins in Angkor temple are my favourites!
Thanks so much! If you liked the Angkor shots you must visit my most recent “Masterpiece” Post which has many more photographs of the famous temples. https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/weekly-challenge-masterpiece-the-temples-of-angkor/
Yes Tina! I’ve already seen it! Great place and great photos!
Absolutely beautiful photos. The first two are my favorites.
Thanks so much PJB, that first shot is one of my all-time favorites. The filtering sunlight was spectacular. I have SO many shots from that day, which was a gift to me from a good friend. She and I (both photographers) went out with a local professional for a few hours of 1-on-1 coaching. It was a great day in so many ways 🙂
That sounds awesome, and you certainly came away with a nice “souvenir” of the day.
Beautiful, artistic compilation! You have captured the mood of the time of day…I personally particularly love the Angkor images. And well done with those quotes!
Thank you Sue – Angkor is magnificent. One of these days I will do a post all about it – should be high on every photographer’s bucket list!
Well, a friend and I hope to visit in the next couple of years! 🙂
great stuff….LOVE the Patagonia work….stunning…have to mention the amazing kiawah sunrise….brilliant….the detail lines in the elephants skin…you certainly captured all of them….wonderful……
Thanks April – good to hear from you! Hope the heat wave isn’t reaching you up there!
fantastic pictures and words to go with…Tina…:-) thanks foe sharing..
sriram
Thank you Sriram-appreciate your comment, which led me to your blog, which is beautiful!
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Terrific landscape pictures, as always, Tina but I really love how you’ve captured the light falling on the elephant’s skin. The tough skin and the soft light make such an amazing contrast. Love it!
Many thanks Uday; that was one of my favorites of the trip–which was of course fantastic!
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LOVE the paddle wheel!
Thanks David! It was such a bustling, busy place but at that moment everything was really still. Always have to be ready for the shot, right?!
The photos are really wonderful, made with a sure feel for the moment. May I say that I like the song even more anyway?
Thank you very much! I love your blog byline!
Lovely photos. Especially liked MORNING SUN, TORRES DEL PAINE, CHILEAN PATAGONIA
Thanks Gayle!
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Your photos are breath-taking, Tina and the quotes chosen are absolutely spot on. So enriching. It is impossible to choose favourites – too much beauty, so many different moods…I just let it “sink in”.
Thank you Ese-a lovely compliment! Appreciate your support.
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Fabulous images. I particularly like the ones of Angkor Wat. WOuld love to go there.
Thank you Sherry. It is a truly magical place!
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Well explain Tina
Thank you Nin!
Beautiful photos. Thanks for the visit and the like of my “Golden Hour” Weekly Photo Challenge post.
Thanks! And my pleasure 🙂
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Hi Tina,
What an eclectic collection of photos and thoughts! Well done.
What was the seed for you to conceptualise this post?
Shakti
Thanks Shakti! Actually it was another blogger. My first response was all evening shots and he challenged me to show some sunrise work. So I went back thru my archives to find some of my favorite morning work. I try to post photos with a consistent theme but for this one I did get a bit eclectic!!
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It’s been my pleasure to spend Golden Hours with you on this beautiful journey captured both by your photos as well as ever lasting memories. These shots are all fantastic but what could be better than being next to that elephant! Oh, I know ,staying in that warm bed beside a crackling fire at 4:00 am in Patagonia.
LOL, thank you dear!
Hi T- Some old favorites in this set. Very nice. I love that people think that you’re a morning person 🙂
Thanks Jane – some great memories. I do mention in my commentary that morning is definitely not my thing!! 🙂
wow! i loved the ace basin photo. beautiful.
Thank you Kerri! It was a gorgeous morning.
Are golden hours like golden years? I hope the golden years are as beautiful as your photos. SQ
LOL, Amen to that Suz, amen to that!!
These are beautiful, Tina!
Thank you Anne – likewise your birds!!
Endless possibilities–I salute you for being able to meet the early light of the day. The image of the fog brings subtlety and delineation at the same time–well done.
Thanks Sally – while I truly dislike the early wake-up, sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do LOL! Appreciate your lovely comment.
I’m glad you did a second post for the challenge. Those are very nice also and very different than the Michigan ones!
Nancy
Thanks so much dogear! Yes, the long evenings in Michigan made for a perfect evening opportunity, while travel sometimes dictates early rising. Appreciate your support !
beautiful Tina. love the morning has broken and sunset (the last one).
Thanks so much Ryan! The last one is actually a 5 minute walk from my home. Somehow we tend to focus on the beauty we see in other places rather than in our own backyard. Although I have made a point of shooting here as well!
Wow. You have a beautiful place. Agree with you. Sometime we forget how beautiful our home is.
Tina, this is an excellent post! Every photo was exquisite, every word was perfect.
What a lovely compliment Naomi, thanks so much!
Wow, all of em are exceptionally beautiful!
Thanks so much Rondje!
Wonderful, wonderful photos Tina!
Thanks VC! They were all wonderful journeys 🙂
Torres del Paine and Kiawah look stunning. I think if I lived on the latter I would never leave the island to the former 🙂
Thanks Robin 🙂 Sometimes we have to leave because it feels so darned good to come back!!! BTW you are suffering the wordpress spam issue. I restored your comment – appreciate your visit!
The moods of different photos speaks volumes. And the fog is very mysterious. What country is that Island you live in?
Thanks Seeker – appreciate your comment! Ours is a small barrier island on the coast of South Carolina in the US.
Wonderful photos!
Many thanks Svetlana!
All very lovely photos, I am not a morning person either, but maybe that is something I need to change. You live in a beautiful place!
Thanks Jude. It’s a challenge for me but am always glad when I make the effort. And yes, our little slice of heaven is wonderful!
Wow !! You demonstrated how Light really affects everything !!!
Internal Illumination w/ the same Creator (or source) as the External Illumination you so beautifully captured to enrich all of us . Thank you Tina,
Besos, Molly
Light and sunrises…..namaste.
What could be bad?! Namaste to you too!
Beautiful photos. Hard to have a favorite in this group. I really like the morning photo in Ace Basin. And Patagonia shots are amazing. You are expanding my ‘bucket list’ !!
Thanks Pam! The Ace Basin shoot was amazing, as was Patagonia. However, the hour drive versus the 11 hour flight – tough choice!!!
ooh such amazing detail in all these beautiful postings. Especially love the one that looks like gigantic quartz crystal shards – ‘Morning Sun..’
And elephant is a fav — Darling wrinkles and tender eyelashes 🙂 Thanks T- Stay cool! dsup
Thanks Molly! It does indeed, and I think that was the point of the challenge so I’m happy you saw it that way!
Thanks Diane! Not bad at all down here, especially after hearing the horror stories of the heat wave in the northeast! Enjoying the ocean breezes 🙂
A magical set of photos, Tina. Yes, and agree with Babsje, you always have such pertinent quotes.
Thanks Tish! I’ve been lucky to do some wonderful travel – as have you!
These are all lovely, and the pairing of those specific quotes is exquisite!
Thanks so much Babsje! Since I did 2 posts on Golden Hour I had to work a bit harder on the quotes, so appreciate your commenting on them!!
You’re welcome, and both of your golden hour posts were great, but the comments reply added to this one. Best, Babsje