Last week I slept in one morning. It seemed like the covers weighed a ton making it too difficult to get up. After another hour of sleep I found the strength to remove the covers and crawl out of bed. The sun was already up casting that warm morning light through my window. As I watched the sun in my room several questions went through my mind. What did this mornings sunrise looked like? What colors were there? What animals and birds would have watched it with me? What would it be like to see every sunrise or sunset? How many people see twelve or more sunrises or sunsets in a year? What would I be like if I experienced more sunrises and sunsets? Would I have a quieter mind, know more peace? Lots of questions this morning. Maybe I should have gotten up earlier. 🙂
I’ve found an early morning walk at the Arapahoe Bend Nature area is a great way to start my day. It can help reduce worries I have bouncing around in my head. Just as I reached my car I noticed a Bald Eagle perched above the area, watching, looking for breakfast. Sorry, I only had my short zoom with me so 50mm zoom is all you get.
There is something inside of me that smiles when I see scenes in nature like this and not just because we see fewer of these scenes. I think nature is a wonderful teacher and, in my case, I need to be more of a student. I grabbed my binoculars and stood there watching him. I don’t believe this eagle is worried about the economic situation, taxes, Christmas shopping, the project at work, getting the car fixed, term papers, getting old, mistakes, weeds in the garden, painting the house, etc. Something inside tells me worry may not even be part of its nature because worry is related to a potential future event/circumstance. Animals do not worry because they live in the present. Animals do stress but only to a present situation and results in flight of fight. Its present moment in life is survival: food and water. Very different than man.
I’m one of those “morning” people who rises before the sun and on most mornings have a cheerful mood about me. It seems I always have been. Those few times I slept in late were during younger years when the party life, booze and loose women were the priorities of my life. After experiencing the suffering each of them offers, I’ve wised up and no longer consider the party life or booze to be that important. Loose women, well there seems to be the need for more suffering in that area.
Anyway, the gist of this post is about morning colors. I enjoy the whole experience of a morning sunrise. Being there, taking it all in. Getting soaked. Hearing the sounds of nature awaking. Smelling the musty woods around me. The expectations of the colors as the sun breaks over the horizon. But, sometimes there are no colors or they’re more subdued. Well, a couple days ago I rose at 4:40 am and headed to the Arapaho Bend nature area. If you look closely, just behind the trees, you can see just a bit of orange glow. Ah, morning colors!
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this “emotion” is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder, or stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. His eyes are closed.
Albert Einstein
An early morning sunrise taken back in 2006 at the Arapaho Bend Natural Area Natural just east of Fort Collins.
…to bring something important on a photo shoot? I have and here’s my story. When the alarm clock broke me from my sleep I reach for the snooze button. Man, is it dark. Wonder if that’s because the suns not up yet? Once the annoying sound has been silenced, I rub my eyes hoping it will help them adjust to the darkness. I start to see the dim light coming through my bedroom window from the street light. My mind asks if I really want to crawl out of this warm bed on a cold October morning in hopes of a beautiful sunrise. But, the voice of passion within a photographer coaxes the body to get out of the bed at this early hour!
I dress and pack my gear in the car. Brrr, it is cold. Let’s get that car heater going. There is very little traffic as everyone else with any sort of sanity is still in bed. Since I’m not driving very far and this is one of my favorite places, the Arapaho Bend Natural Area, I arrive in plenty of time. I find my parking spot in the small turnout along the dirt road, turn off the engine and step back out into the cold. I know I will have to walk down to the waters edge for the view I want and hopefully not get too wet from the tall grasses. I do love the quiet of these morning hours. Strangely, I’m not feeling the cold as much. Once I’m at the waters edge I set up my tripod and get ready to shoot. Wait a minute! No way! Yes, I did! I frantically look in this pocket of my bag and then in that pocket but it’s not there. Yep, I forgot to put my L-bracket on my camera and now I cannot place my camera on my tripod. S#@*!!!!
Frustrated and angry at myself, I sit down on the wet ground and stare at the horizon as the sun begins to rise. Look at the colors in those clouds! Their reflection in the water! This is awesome! My senses are waking up as I can hear the geese on the far side of the pond. I’m breathing slower and gently. The light breeze is gently lapping the water along the shoreline. I am realizing the calming beauty of nature is embracing my spirit. I’m enjoying all of this, the sights, the smells, the sounds and I’m not cold anymore. Once again,the voice inside of us that wants us to photograph speaks to me. It begs me to go ahead and shoot. “Why not? You’re here. Go ahead and hand hold that camera. Forget the tripod. Now is the time. So, pull up those knees, prop your elbows on top of the knees, take a breath and press the shutter. Lets’ see what you get.” So, I did.
Another lesson in learning to listen to the voice inside. And, that’s my story.
