Sunrise – Michael Stephen Wills Photography

Adirondack Respite

Seven new photographs from the Adirondack Wilderness

March 10, 2018March 12, 2018 MichaelStephenWills23 Comments

One weekend my nephew Chris and I backpacked to Peaked Mountain Pond, the Adirondacks wilderness, in the rain. My son, Sean, was to meet us later. The constant rain made the easy trek into a slog. Our attitude improved after the tents setup and the fire. The skies clear to a brilliant display of the Milky Way away from light pollution.

Peaked Mountain in the light of an August dawn taken from the west pond shore. Siamese Ponds Wilderness, Adirondack Park, New York State. At 2,919 feet, Peaked Mountain is a modest height though it rises an impressive 675 feet in 0.4 mile.

Looking north across Peaked Mountain Pond from the west shore shortly after dawn.

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We used the canoe as a punt, using a solid branch to push around the shallow pond for short distances, after bailing.

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Mid-morning, we headed up the trail to the peak. I caught this orb-weaver spider web on the way.

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…and a detail. Technically, this is a macro. Did not wait around for the owner.

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Later, in the afternoon, Chris caught some Zzzzz’s in a time out from water gathering. We pumped water through a filter, this is necessary throughout New York State to avoid giardia infection.

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The ultimate in peace and tranquility, though disturbing a hornet pollinator can lead to excitement. This water lily bloom was caught with a tripod mounted long lens. Look closely for the hornet at work inside the flower. HHealthy water lily leaves are the epitome of tranquility because they are always clean, giving the illusion of tranquility. Scientists study water lily leaves to learn how the leaf surface sheds dirt. Imagine self-cleaning cloths.

Correction: it is the Lotus leaf, not lily pad, that is self cleaning.

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Juniper Sunrise

crack of dawn

December 12, 2017December 14, 2017 MichaelStephenWills9 Comments

In this post we start the day of my posting “Family Trek”, July 19, 2008, when, well before the sun rose at 6:23 am Mountain Daylight Time (the Navajo Reservation observes daylight savings, the rest of Arizona does not), Pam and I were at the Spider Rock Overlook.

Most visitors to the canyon make use of a system of roads and parking lots next to strategic views. There is the White House Overlook we visited our first day, July 18, to hike from the trailhead into the canyon. There are also, on the south side of the canyon:

- Tsegi Overlook, taken from a Navajo word that translates directly to “between the rocks” and usually refers to a deep canyon with steep cliffs.
- Junction Overlook above the point where Canyon Del Muerto (see my posting “Sun and Shade, Canyon Del Muerto”, and Canyon De Chelly intersect. There is an Anasazi ruin in the south-facing cliff across the canyon.
- Sliding House Overlook, another Anasazi run across the canyon.
- Face Rock Overlook, to view the eponymous formation.
- Spider Rock Overlook, the most stunning rock formation. I will have a postings about it later. That is our location for these shots.

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Sunrise Canyon De Chelly — Looking east from the Spider Rock overlook, Canyon De Chelly.

While getting ready I scoped out the location for interesting visual tropes. Utah Junipers are exceptionally hardy shrubs, stressed individual plants grow into compelling forms shaped by hardship. As the sun rose, this specimen emerged from the gloom and caught the first sun rays.

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Juniper Sunrise — A distressed Utah Juniper on the edge of Canyon De Chelly overlooking Needle Rock a few moments after sunrise.

Enjoy!!

Click for the first posting of this series, “Portrait of a Navajo Guide.”

Katrina Sunrise, August 28, 2005

The effects of the category 5 hurricane Katrina

September 6, 2017September 6, 2017 MichaelStephenWills11 Comments

Hurricane Katrina approached the Gulf Coast and New Orleans as the sun rose on the West End of Jones Beach on Long Island, August 28, 2005. This amazing sunrise was an element of the unusual atmospheric effects that are evidence of the power of this storm.

The featured image (heading this blog) is my print, “Katrina Sunrise”. This work is enjoyed by hundreds of my clients. Use the link, below, to acquire your own. Custom framing is available.

Click this link for Katrina Sunrise from my Memory Dreams Reflections Online gallery
The following images are the rough drafts taken in the early morning hours. The beach was literally deserted as I mounted the camera and framed the view for this series. Many image captions include the file time stamp, for example 6:07:13 is 6 am and 7 minutes 13 seconds.

West End Sunrise 6:07:13 — 6:07:13 First image of the set. Below the horizon the sun lights the upper atmosphere.

West End Sunrise 6:07:34 — 6:07:34 As the sun approaches the horizon the lower clouds catch light. My Camera was a Sony DSC-F828 tripod mounted with a polarizing filter.

West End Sunrise 6:07:56 — 6:07:56 I panned slightly to the east. ISO was set to 64 throughout.

West End Sunrise 6:08:16 — 6:08:16 Gradual brightening. The lens is 7.1 – 51.0 mm f/2.0-2.8.

West End Sunrise 6:08:38 — 6:08:38 All levels are brighter. It seems those low clouds will block the horizon. That was not the case. The variable focal length is 15.6 mm.

West End Sunrise 6:09:05 — 6:09:05 It is happening!!!! Exposure was set to automatic on a f stop of 8.0. It was 1/3 second for this image.

West End Sunrise 6:14:34 — 6:14:34 The view is panned west. That is the Robert Moses water tower of Jones Beach State Park looking like a rocket ready to blast off.

West End Sunrise 6:15:15 — 6:15:15 Will those low clouds block the sun? Looks promising.

West End Sunrise 6:16:11 — 6:16:11 Clouds on the upper margin catching the sun. Horizon brightening….. Exposure 1/20 second.

West End Sunrise 6:14:39 — 6:14:39 This will be a disappointment if that sun does not show. Exposure 1/25 second.

West End Sunrise 6:18:27 — 6:18:27 Almost there….1/15 second exposure….

West End Sunrise 6:19:07 — 6:19:07 Quick framing adjustment to bring the lighting of shore margin into the composition. The final version was created from two images captured seconds after this.

Hurricane Rainbow Panorama — As the sun rose a rainbow formed in the western sky.

Click this link for my blog “Sunrise Photo Album March 2 2017.”

Copyright 2017 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved

March 2 2017 Sunrise Photo Album

a new start

May 6, 2017August 26, 2017 MichaelStephenWills21 Comments

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As would a proud parent here I present a sequence of images taken over a 2 minute 12 second interval, the morning of Thursday, March 2nd, 2017. While standing facing the Atlantic Ocean I captured this series of images as the sun emerged from the clouds. Technically, sunrise was hidden by the distant cloud cover obstructing the horizon. The emergence of the orb from the clouds adds drama to the images, the hazy atmosphere filters light to the benefit of the overall effect.

I worked with a Sony Alpha 700 DSLR with a UV filter, handheld in spot mode. I set the exposure by hovering over the sun.

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Red Sun over Cornell University

March 20, 2017April 28, 2017 MichaelStephenWills5 Comments

On this spring equinox morning a huge sun, filtered by morning clouds, hangs over East Hill and Cornell University. Taken from our home on West Hill, looking across the valley and Ithaca, New York.

The temperature is a balmy 18 degrees F.

Also…Happy Anniversary to my dear wife, Pam. XOXOXO

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Can you pick out these Cornell landmarks?
— Jenny McGraw Tower
— Lib Slope still covered in snow from last week’s storm.
— the looming fortress shape of Bradford Hall.