A Little After Sunrise

Quote of the day: “As we learn to have compassion for ourselves, the circle of compassion for others—what and whom we can work with, and how—becomes wider.” — Pema Chodron When Things Fall Apart

Early morning, geese, dew-covered grass

Last night, I planned to get up early today to make some sunrise photos. This morning I woke early, but it took me awhile to climb out of my warm bed into the cool morning air. I brushed my teeth, threw on some clothes, grabbed my camera, got in the car, and headed to a small lake that I’ve thought of capturing in the early morning light.

I wasn’t up early enough to capture sunrise photos. But the light at this time of day is still magnificent. I give myself a break and decide not to criticize myself for not rolling out of bed earlier. The day is perfect. I’m feeling fine. I’m on my way to do what I love the most. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get up earlier.

On the way to the lake I saw these geese wandering in a park area and it looked like there was mist rising over the grass. I stopped, parked the car and headed down to see if I could capture the misty magic. No such luck. Either the mist was very fleeting or a trick of the light angle from the road. But I still had fun photographing the dewy grass, and the geese.

Slightly surreal lake view

I love the golden light of early morning. And with the days shortening it’s easier for me to motivate myself to get up early to capture that light since sunrise this morning was at 6:23 AM (instead of 5:30 AM during the longest days of summer). For the past week I’ve noticed more and more signs of fall—the coolness of the nights, leaves starting to turn here and there, apples ripening in orchards, and this morning, mist rising off the warm lake water in the cool morning air. Part of me wants to cling to the wonderful warm days of summer and part of me is glad for the cooler nights and more temperate days. I grabbed a sweatshirt this morning before heading out—first time I’ve needed a sweatshirt since June, I think.

Water lily leaves

There are no water lilies in bloom on the lake this morning (I think I’m too late in the season), but I love the shapes and textures of the leaves against the water. They make a still life all by themselves.

Water lily leaves

Even though I am photographing in a relatively small area on one end of the lake, everywhere I look I find things I want to capture, some are landscapes and long views of the lake and the light, others are small things, close-ups on elements of nature and life. Here are a few more photos of the things that spoke to me today.