What really motivates me?
As an active Rhode Island photographer, I participate in several online groups that are focused (pun fully intended!) on photography. In one group that I belong to we have weekly “challenges”, where we all share a photograph along a selected theme. The winner of a challenge gets to choose the next theme. One recent theme was to share a photograph and describe what motivates me as a photographer.
Salter Grove Winter Sunrise
Normally, I have a good idea of what I will do for the photograph right off the bat, or with in a few hours of seeing what the theme is. This time things were different. I spent a good part of the week thinking about the theme, and asking myself what really does motivate me? Why do I get up at such an early hour, drive and then often hike to a location in the dark of night? What in the world will possess me to leave today to be in place to shoot tomorrows sunrise? What is it about photography that motivates me to do this over and over again?
It is the chance to be see the start of a new day full of hope, promise and beauty. To catch the colors dancing across the sky as the sun begins to peek over the horizon. To feel the oceans breeze across my skin and to smell the salty air. I love to hear the oceans waves crash upon the shore, and then the gentle sounds of the small rocks collide as the water retreats back into the ocean. For me, there is nothing else in the world like this experience.
As I stand in the dark, all of my senses are in action as the day begins. There is no other time that I feel so alive!
The Photograph – Salter Grove Winter Sunrise
The morning that I created my latest seascape print titled “Salter Grove Winter Sunrise” was one of these special mornings. Fortunately, Salter Grove is in my home city or Warwick and only a few moments from my house. I let the dog out, made a cup of coffee, and met up with a few friends.
I researched the location online the night before, so I had a good idea of where I wanted to be and what I was looking to create. Once at the park it was just a matter of trying to find something interesting to place in the foreground of the photograph to add a point of interest. As I explored the small cove, I was fascinated by the ice, and how it formed on the exposed rocks at low tide. I composed a scene with the ice covered rocks in the foreground and the trees on the distant Rock Island silhouetted against the sky.A few test shots let me know that I had the composition that I wanted, and I simply had to wait for the sun to bring its magic to the skies.
I did not have to wait long, as the golden colors of sunrise began to glow along the horizon. The horizon began to glow as the oft colors began their dance across the sky, and my excitement began to rise. This is the moment that I love so much! I clicked the shutter and got the shot that you see here, and only moments later it was over.
What I enjoy most about this photograph is the contrast in temperature that it conveys. The foreground features the ice covered rocks and a lot of cool, blue colors that really tell the story of winter. However the sun rising on the horizon brings a warm golden color to the sky, and as it rises the warmth begins to spread across the water towards the ice, much like spring will soon move into New England to drive winter away.
You can purchase a print of “Salter Grove Winter Sunrise” for your home or office in my print store on a variety of mediums from paper to canvas. If you are looking for something special please contact me directly using the phone number or email address at the bottom of the page.