This sunrise shoot was challenging. The weatherman was wrong, and the clouds covered most of the light that would have framed the composition at Lower Greeley Pond. By using a long-lens and a key photography lesson, I’m still able to get one image I’m really proud of from this morning. You’ll know it when you see it.
Cloud Cover
On my drive in, I bore witness to a stunning sunrise display on the highway. After pulling off in Lincoln, the light began fading fast. I pulled over in a random restaurant’s parking lot and took this photo. I remember almost immediately after I took this shot, the light began to vanish.
Self-Reflections
Once I’d hiked into the forest and reached the pond, I waited to see if the light was going to come. The clouds were moving fast and that speed fueled my hope. I was hopeful for a sliver of light to pierce the clouds and illuminate the far off mountains.
While the light did eventually come (see the image Reflections below), for a long time it felt like it wouldn’t. I was beginning to feel disheartened at missing the shot I’d traveled all this way for. That’s when I remembered a key lesson I’ve learned in my years practicing landscape photography.
Shoot to the conditions you’re given, not the conditions you wanted.
Zachary Ferretti, 2023
When I made that mental pivot, I saw the nature around me for what it was not what I wanted it to be. In return, I was given the chance to capture my favorite image of the morning.
Rocky Shores
This is what I’d consider the strongest image from the morning. It’s also the image with the least dramatic subject. What it misses out on in that department it more than makes up for in a unique and enjoyable composition to lose yourself in.
To combat the aforementioned lack of dramatic light on the obvious subject, I took out my telephoto lens and began scanning the forest around me. That’s when I found these four rocks reflecting off the glassy surface of the first Greeley Pond. I took this photo and then waited a bit longer before noticing that the light was finally arriving.
Reflections
While I took the image that I’d wanted to take all along, at this point I realized this wasn’t the best the scene offered. I’d just shot it in Rocky Shores. After taking this shot and realizing that, I was excited. I didn’t have a plan in mind any more and I was ready to see what nature showed me. I packed up my bag and began hiking to the next pond.
Waves Of Light
Eventually, I reached the end of the hike and got a chance to rest. The view looking back from Upper Greeley Pond was stunning. As the sun was rising so was the wind. The soft breeze was drifting through the trees making the once-glassy surface of the water transform to a wrinkled sheet of blue and brown.
After enjoying the breeze, I packed up my kit and walked a bit farther into the woods before it was time to head back. On my way home, I stopped at a local restaurant I’m a fan of (Enzo’s Pizzeria) and then drove back to the city for a well-earned rest.
Thanks for joining me as I reflected on a great sunrise with a good lesson. The old proverb of life and lemons is especially true in landscape photography, where the entire scene is weather dependent. A tough learned but valuable lesson is that the beauty of landscape photography can be captured regardless of the weather. See ya next time.
A great life lesson! Also what an awesome picture with the cloud cover. Almost makes you glad it wasn’t sunny.