Balloons Over Buddhas

Every morning in Bagan, hot air balloons lift off near the Irrawaddy river and slowly drift over the numerous temples and pagodas. They grant tourists a unique way to view the scenic valley, but perhaps even better, they provide a great photo opportunity for those who stay on the ground.

In the wake of recent earthquakes and to preserve the structures, Bagan has banned climbing on almost all of its temples. Tourists used to flock to the large Sulamuni Temple for iconic views of the sunrise. As this is no longer possible, finding viewpoints above the tree canopy are limited. Fortunately, there are still two smaller temples that remain open for sunrise and sunset viewing. Space is limited, so you have to arrive early, but witnessing the morning ritual is worth the early wake-up call.

My guide and I arrived here in the darkness. Using a flashlight, we climbed the narrow, internal staircase until we reached the upper balcony. There were already 6-8 people there when we arrived, but a space looking towards the golden Ananda temple was still available. I quickly set up my gear and then waited patiently for the show to start.

As the sun appeared, the haze took on a pleasing glow and the first glimpse of a balloon could be seen in the distance. Soon there were dozens of balloons dotting the sky and approaching our location. The procession lasted about an hour during which I alternated between taking photos and quietly observing the exhibition. After the color and balloons faded, I spent another 20 minutes enjoying the panoramic view on the other side of the temple. A memorable morning in an extraordinary place.

View fullsize

There Will Be Blood

This summer I took the trip of a lifetime...a safari to Kenya & Tanzania. The beauty of the Serengeti, the abundance of wildlife and the warmth of the people were all beyond my expectations. It was a trip filled with wonderful experiences like this one.

Prior to this trip, I had captured maybe 20-30 images of animals, so I am very inexperienced in photographing wildlife. As a result, I prepared as best as I could by reading & watching several tutorials and practicing new techniques. I did not expect to come back with images worthy of sharing, but my photographs also exceeded my expectations.

This image was taken during our first sunrise in the Serengeti. After a 5:00 am wake up call, we met our guide and started driving through the plains. This appeared almost instantly, as we crested a small rise and could see miles into a valley below. About one hundred meters in front of us this Vulture was perched ominously in silhouette to the rising sun. I immediately requested our guide to stop for a photo, but it wasn't necessary. He was already slowing down knowing that this was a unique photo opportunity.

Fortunately, the vulture remained still, so I had time to set the exposure properly for the dynamic lighting. It was a foreboding scene, but a great beginning to our time in Tanzania.

Monumental Sunrise

Visiting Monument Valley was one of many highlights from my trip to the Southwest U.S. It straddles the border of Arizona and Utah but is officially in the territory of the Navajo Nation. It has been featured in numerous films dating back to the earliest Westerns and is, perhaps, what most people think of when they imagine the American West.

There is a scenic 16-mile dirt road that loops around and in-between the numerous sandstone buttes. One stop along this road is named Artist's Point, and it was my favorite place to watch the sunrise. The overlook faces northwest and is shadowed by a large mesa. While you cannot see the sun, it provides a perfect vantage point to watch the 1,000-foot tall rock formations light up.

I went there expecting the red rocks to become saturated in the soft morning light. I did not anticipate having wispy clouds in the dry climate, but they were a welcome addition. As I stood there watching the light make its way to the valley floor, another surprise developed. Slowly, interesting patterns of light and shadow emerged as the sun touched the top of the small dunes in the foreground. This combination of elements provided a unique moment to capture.

Lastly, an unforeseen benefit of this overlook is that it draws a relatively low number of visitors. I spent the entire morning here completely alone, allowing for an incredibly peaceful, monumental sunrise.

Mesa Arch Sunrise

Over the past several years, Mesa Arch has become well known to photographers and tourists. Its reputation of being one of the best places in the area to catch the sunrise has spread and (on most mornings) dozens of people gather here with their cameras ready.

If you get the proper conditions, the sun will light up the stone underneath the arch as it rises over the distant mountains, saturating the red rock and creating a glow beneath the arch. My first attempt, the day before, was a dud…the rising sun was blocked by clouds so there was no light or color. The second day was much better.

I knew the area would get crowded close to sunrise, so I arrived early and set up in the dark before anyone else arrived. I had researched where the sun would rise, which made it easier to compose the scene and allowed me to set up off to the side, low to the ground, where I would have a good view underneath the arch. It is not the standard composition most people capture, but I liked the angles and the idea of getting something a little different.

You cannot tell from this image, but there were probably 20-30 people to my left, all clicking away, doing there best to capture a good photo. It was a beautiful sunrise, but was fairly short-lived. Soon after I took this, the sun went behind the clouds and the light & color faded, but I was happy to have captured the moment.

Candlelit

Visiting Zermatt and seeing the Matterhorn have been on my wish list since we moved to Switzerland. A couple of weeks ago, I finally had the opportunity to go and spend a few days. My main goal was to photograph the Matterhorn, so I did not spend much time in town. Instead, I took a couple of lifts and hiked a short distance to stay in a mountain lodge near lake Stellisee. During the day, I walked several of the trails around the area, but in the morning & night I spent most of my time here at Stellisee, gazing at the iconic mountain.

The sunsets were disappointing, but the sunrise on my first morning was amazing. With clear skies all around, the sun lit up the peak of the Matterhorn like a candle as it rose behind me. There were 3 other people that set an early alarm and walked to the lake for sunrise. We all watched with smiles on our faces as the peak started to glow bigger & brighter. With fairly calm winds, we were also fortunate to have a great reflection of the scene above…an incredible start to the day. :)

Eruption at Aldeyjarfoss

Aldeyjarfoss in the central highlands is one of my favorite waterfalls in Iceland (or anywhere for that matter). It is fairly remote, located more than an hour’s drive from the main Ring Road and requires a 4x4 to access. 

There is no lodging nearby, so photographing the falls at sunrise requires camping or a very early wakeup call. I decided to camp (sort of) and rented an SUV with a tent on the top. Yes, on the top…it opened like a clam shell and you used a ladder to access it. Cool idea, right? I thought so.

The first night I arrived here, the weather was calm. I popped the tent and slept like a baby. Unfortunately, the calm, clear weather provided some of most boring skies I have seen in Iceland. They were colorless too, both at sunset and sunrise. While Aldeyjarfoss was impressive to witness firsthand, my photographs were rather blah. As a result, I decided to drive back to the Ring Road to visit some other locations and return again that night for a second attempt. 

On the second night, I arrived a couple hours before sunset. The clouds were coming in and my hopes for a good photograph were rising. Then, as it often does in Iceland, the weather dramatically changed. Rain started coming down sideways, the wind howled and everything turned gray (if you could see anything at all). I managed to open the tent, get in and attempt to sleep.

The wind shook the SUV so much that I was rolling around on top of it, and before long the rain started making its way inside. I decided to abandon tent… Opening the zipper, I caught a face full of rain and discovered that the wind had blown the ladder away! My tent exit/rooftop dismount was basically a wet slide/flop, but I landed on my feet! I found the ladder, closed the tent and climbed in the back of the SUV. Of course, I got completely soaked in this hilarious process.

The wind/rain continued for several hours, but I did mange to get some sleep in the SUV. When I awoke to my iPhone alarm shortly before sunrise, the conditions had improved. I quickly jumped out of the car and grabbed my gear to make the short hike to the edge of the falls. Still damp and a little cold, I watched the sun rise behind the waterfall. The end results of this adventure to Aldeyjarfoss include a stiff back, wet socks and this sunrise image. All worth it. :)

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dawn

Venice is easily one of my favorite cities in Europe. Its narrow winding walkways, numerous bridges and maze of canals make it a truly unique place to visit. I prefer to wander around Venice at night or early in the morning before the crowds of tourists fill the alleyways & piazzas. At these times you have the city to yourself...it is quiet, peaceful, a joy to explore or even get lost (which happens to me frequently due to the twisting passages & canals!) For this image, I awoke around 4:30 am and wandered through St. Marks square in the twilight and completely alone…which was a great experience in itself. As the sun began to rise, I walked down the popular Riva Degli Schiavoni promenade next to St. Mark’s square. This view, looking out over the Grand Canal to the iconic Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, has been photographed countless times…and is one of my favorite spots in the city.

Low Country Sunrise - South Carolina

This was taken early one morning overlooking the Calibogue Sound in South Carolina. I was severely jet-lagged after flying here from Germany the night before, so I was up at 4:30 am, well before the dawn. Once I saw the colors starting to appear in the clouds, I quickly grabbed my camera and ventured outside to capture what was a most impressive sunrise. The colors were more intense than I had ever seen in this area with incredible purples and magentas stretching into the sky as well as reflecting in the incoming tide. The silhouetted branches, reeds & the dock in the foreground provided striking contrast to the light/color in the distance.

The color lasted only a short time, quickly fading as the sun made its way over the horizon. A great moment aided by my body not knowing what time zone it was in. Thank you jet-lag. :)