Sprague Lake Sunrise

Had the itch to get out and really immerse myself in some shooting this weekend. So I headed up to Estes Park Friday evening, spent the night at the better-than-expected Discovery Lodge and got up at 4:30 to head into Rocky Mountain National Park and shoot the sunrise at Sprague Lake. Here's a little run-through of that journey.

As usual in these situations, the photo opportunities start well before the actual sunrise.  Just as the sky to the east was starting to brighten, reflections of the trees along the shore of Glacier Creek could already be seen.

I started walking the half-mile loop around the lake, settling in fairly quickly at a spot that seemed to have a promising view to the east.  Admittedly, I didn't expect to see a Canada Goose doing its best Nessie imitation.

Spring hasn't completely made its way to this elevation yet, even though much of the snow has melted.  What the dormant vegetation lacks in color it makes up for in interesting texture.  And I was on a real reflection kick this trip.  So I found the mirrored images of the branches sticking out of the water compelling.

With the position established, it mainly becomes a game of hurry up and wait.  As the light grows and colors change, I snap periodically to check the exposure levels and adjust the shutter speed to get the effect I'm looking for.

As the clouds began to glow pink I switched to a portrait orientation to bring more of them into the picture.  And while the extra sky also made the shot more colorful, it was just a little too much empty space for my taste.

So I switched back to landscape in time to catch a duck leaving a wake across the lake.  You can plan all you want, but some of the best elements of your shots will inevitably be things completely out of your control.  You just have to put yourself in the best position to take advantage of opportunities.

As the sun came closer and closer to breaking the horizon, I had to keep increasing the shutter speed to prevent the sun from being overexposed.  Which in turn dropped the other elements of the scene further into shadow.

I love the burst effect you get from the rising and setting sun.  The rays streaming out almost seem alive, and make the sun a source of emotion and not just light.  I've never paid much attention to seasonal affective disorder.  But after the dreary extended winter we had I'm convinced of its legitimacy.  Seeing the sun and experiencing its warmth is a huge spirit lifter.

Soon the sun gets just high enough to reveal the colors of some of the other elements in the shot.  To me, this is when you get the best balance of contrast and detail.

Another switch to portrait, with better results this time with the foreground emphasized rather than the sky.  More contrast, more texture and therefore more value.  Lens flare doesn't hurt, either.

There aren't too many things I'd gladly get up at 4:30 in the morning to do -- much less on a Saturday.  But spending this magical time in this beautiful place definitely makes the list.