Prelude, a photo from South Dakota, Midwest

Photographer's Note

Prelude

Lake Mitchell
Mitchell, South Dakota

One of my favorite rituals every time I find myself back home for a visit is to experience a sunrise down at the lake. I have found that the "fishing bridge" at the lake margin where Firesteel Creek enters Lake Mitchell is my favorite vantage point.

This morning I thought I missed it .. I got up well before dawn .. but then me wee daughter awoke and didn't want me to leave .. finally I got her back to sleep and raced out of the house down to the lake. I would have missed it if not for this helpful cloud bank.

It was a wonderful effect .. The sun seemed to find a thicker or taller bit of the clouds .. the sky darkened a bit and these beams of darkness appeared ...

I think of South Dakota in three geographic regions .. In the far west are the very distinctive Black Hills ... The rest of the state is divided by the Missouri River .. "West River" is a dry land of large cattle ranches, Indian reservations, and badlands. "East River" (where I grew up) is like a little cousin to neighboring Minnesota .. humid farmland pocketed by an infinite number of lakes.

dip, Wandering_Dan, Paolo, dlevy23, Buin, rigoletto, berek, emjleclercq, Cretense, elmec, adores, evanrizo, NellyD, danos, stego, darrasin, riclopes, Zelanda, jaywalker, Benedict, xuaxo, ak47apache, paura, alainh, belido, Shoot_Score, gunbud, Didi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dip (21408) 2007-09-07 9:19

Hi John,
imaginative shot with wonderful lights effect and good POV,
very well captured the moment!
greetings,
Dimitris.

Paolo (41258) 2007-09-07 9:35

Hi John, wonderufl mirror image, with the few light of the day and the wonderful rays dancing on the sky and on the sea.
excellent image, full of mood.
thanks, ciao

Wandering_Dan (3449) 2007-09-07 9:35

Very nice shot! It doesn't look like a 1/60 image, but the fast shutter worked well. I like the sparse colors and the abstract look, while the light on the cloud gives the whole thing meaning.

Nice job!

sreeharig (211) 2007-09-07 10:25

Awesome capture, I loved your framing and somewhat decent symmetry too. Liked the idea of playing with light like this.

ahaberal (6469) 2007-09-07 10:29

hi john
excellent sunset
asim

dlevy23 (2018) 2007-09-07 10:43

Hi John, excellent photo, nice colors and composition. Perfect timing to get the right lighting.

Daniel

Buin (42580) 2007-09-07 11:47

Hallo John!
This one simply is breathtaking and it somehow gives a reverential feeling ... Great!
Greetings from Germany - and have a nice weekend!
Frank

rigoletto (34279) 2007-09-07 15:56

A mystical and mythical image Dear John. A prelude to the day, looks like a preluse to creation of light and life.
You are really lucky to see this sky. TFS,
Deniz

happypoppeye (4819) 2007-09-07 18:43

This is excellent John. I saw the thunbnail a few hours ago, without looking at who posted it and said "this is so overstaurated it's not even worth looking at it". Now, seeing it as your most recent upload I said "this is going to be good". It is better than I thought, even after seeing it was yours. First off I would say perfect timing. You have caught the setting sun at a perfect moment in time. Partially cloud covered, the light of sunset exploding out in streams of color that can only be caught by the best photographer. A moment in time that can never be replicated or reproduced again. The right place at the right time...Striking, thoughtful, original...perfect.

A true John McLaird.

Better than great work,
John

pablominto (53746) 2007-09-07 20:05

Hello John,
An awesome scenery, with colours at least I don't often see!
The play of light is wonderful; I also notice how some clouds are getting golden linings...
A well composed presentation of this wonder of nature!
Greetings,
Pablo -

berek (50518) 2007-09-07 22:25

Hi John,
I just say great my friend. incredible light and main colors. have a nice weekend.
Burak

emjleclercq (15778) 2007-09-07 22:40

At first sight a rather dark picture, but when you start to look at it, the effect of the red rays becomes astonishing and the little cloud on the right is very well lighted. The trees on the horizon are perfectly silhouetted and the reflections just superb. Excellent dark blue in the middle. Thanks for sharing.

All the best,

Emmanuel

Cretense (68709) 2007-09-08 2:47

Hi John!

This excellent work of art, this beautiful place cannot be from this planet. Beautiful colours, composition and reflection. I lightshow that could make the technicians of Jean Michel Jarre commit suicide! Congratulations!

Hercules

danyy (0) 2007-09-08 3:45

Bonjour John,
la r徼ssite totale ici, les lumi鋨es n'彋aient vraiment pas faciles et il fallait rendre ces rayons.
La sym彋rie joue bien ici, rendant fid鋩ement les couleurs et rayons de la r嶧lit�, augmentant ainsi le graphisme de la photo.
J'ai la touche rougeoyante sue la droite.

Kind regards.
Daniel.

elmec (12210) 2007-09-08 6:24

Hello John!
Great colourfull lines of light!
I like hard red clouds there!
Perfect done!
Best regards!

kensimage (8563) 2007-09-08 9:14

Spectacular, John! Light is what photography is all about, and this one just shouts out, LIGHT! It speaks for itself, there's nothing more to say, I can only look in awe. Regards, Ken.

leo61 (0) 2007-09-08 11:13

Hi John!
You did well with the centered horizon to recieve this symetry and the nice mirroreffect.Fantastic red and blue tones and nice silhouettes.The diagonal sunrays look great.
Regards,Leo

bracasha75 (24591) 2007-09-08 14:12

Hello John
What to say?
???????
BEAUTIFUL John...
Cheers,Braca

adores (46979) 2007-09-08 21:10

Hi John!
What a tremendous effect! A very different sunrise for sure!I like the colours given by the rays of light and the symmetry given by the reflection! Great work!

evanrizo (462) 2007-09-09 0:18

This is really a prelude for a great day!-:)
Hi John, the layers, the rays of the light give a great impress here, the silhouettes of the land and the tress in the middle works fantastic.
The reflections of the colorful layers from the light rays are superb.
Cheers
Evan

NellyD (1874) 2007-09-09 3:54

Hi John,

That's just an amazing shot, it's very beautiful.
Great light effects, impressive colours and reflection and a very good POV.
Thanks for sharing!

Greetings, Nel

fserajian (2299) 2007-09-09 9:07

John,

This is just amazing, you have captured the warm glowing rays very well, it is mystical... Beautiful work and congratualtion. TFS

Fara

danos (110407) 2007-09-09 11:34

Hello John,
impressive this sunrise effect with the beams rising sun to floodlight the sky and the surface of the lake too.With the first glance i thought that it was a spot light that turn round and round.i like the this warm hue.Well done John.

Have a nice week,Danos

EOSF1 (1944) 2007-09-09 13:51

Hello John, it's so beautiful that it looks unreal ! Good composition and good technique, the sun rays are unbelievable ! Well done , thanks.

Mario

darrasin (2860) 2007-09-09 21:11

Hello John! This is absolutely stunning, I don't think I've ever seen such thick shafts of light like this emerging from behind clouds. The subtle yet very warm sunrise colors are equally stunning. And the reflection of all this completes the masterpiece!

Well done!
Doug

mesutilgim (0) 2007-09-10 0:48

Hello dear John,
Wonderfull idea ! Very nice capture, great colors, perfect sharpness and great notes. The play with different color shades and rays is a perfect ralisation. I liked this concept very much and will wait for the concerto's, aria's and and and !
Really something quite different this time !
Very well done my friend and tfs
Best regards from İstanbul

riclopes (35577) 2007-09-10 2:07

Ol� John, amazing effect of light in these last posts. The resulted atmosphere is quite magical and surreal. Although the other wider view is also lovely, this closer approach is more impressive and that pink cloud at right is a great bonus. Fascinating image.
have a good week,
ricardo

Zelanda (5692) 2007-09-11 1:33

Hola John,
Preciosos esos efectos del sol con fant嫳ticos colores y reflejos. Esa peque鎙 nube roja y brillante con su caprichosa forma es muy bonita.
Magn璗ico trabajo.
Saludos cordiales
Ros

marioana (2256) 2007-09-11 9:43

Hello John.
Very beautiful. Well seen. I probably like this one a little more than the latest one. It has a little more punch. Could be a little brighter and a little more contrasy. Just a little ;) Very lovely, well done.
Regards, Steve.

stego (24132) 2007-09-11 11:12

Hi John,
I did right posting this and the other one as main posts, because they are both amazingly beautiful and while being much alike, they "work" quite differently.
I had to be a poet or something to write anything worth about them.
Regards, Jos�.

Malyshev (2522) 2007-09-11 13:47

Wow!
Great shot,John!
Fantastic colours and magic composition!!!!
Bravo!!!!
Yuri

placombe (7715) 2007-09-11 19:03

Hi John
Superbbbbbbbbbbb shot. A one of a kind. Lucky you are to be at the right place at the right time.
Regards from Canada
Pierre Lacombe

UnTrained (0) 2007-09-12 1:03

Hi John,
wonderful moment, well caputered. Very appealing composition with the silhouette of trees between the reflection and the sky. Warm, strong impression.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

jaywalker (16105) 2007-09-12 11:10

Hi John, A stunning capture of colour, the rays across both the sky & water are excellent &, nicely sandwiched in-between is the silhouetted land, beautiful shot with great reflection, kind regards Wilson.

sothy81 (9646) 2007-09-13 15:21

Wow John. Just a few days that i did not visit your gallery, now you have such a great one here. Wonderful shot. Love the sky. Very colorful and dramatic. Well done. Sothy

Benedict (7076) 2007-09-13 23:00 [Comment]

Show Comment

anesugur (18789) 2007-09-13 23:53

Hi John,
This is a perfect capture.
The composition and POV are all excellent.
Superb light and colors too.
Best wishes. Uğur

Angshu (56760) 2007-09-14 0:34

Hello John
Quite awesome spectacle with the light painting the sky. The sun partially covered by the cloud results in the bands of color, which you have captured magnificently. Loved the clouds both in the centre & the right, with the red lining. Simply fantastic...thanks for sharing such a beauty with us John
Best Regards
Angshu

xuaxo (6854) 2007-09-15 15:54

Hi John,
Just amazing. We only need to accompany it with an appropriate music. Or simply the sound of silence.
Regards. F.

paura (25802) 2007-09-17 18:41

Supperb lighting and colors here, John. You had special feeling to can compose it. It`s a shot taken with your soul.

Very well done.

Paulo

barni (15751) 2007-09-21 13:24

Hello John
Incredible light !
Congratulation
Christophe

alainh (33209) 2007-09-23 0:37

hello
Astonsishing and beautiful sunset with this beautiful reflection. a master piece !!
have a nice sunday John
alain

belido (19934) 2007-09-23 19:16

Hi John,

I usually don't critique twice at a time for the same member but I need to confess that this one is something that I'm looking for when we speak about great sunset shots. Just wonderful colors and view. Great indeed!
Regards,
Carlos

Shoot_Score (650) 2007-09-29 15:52

""Don't know why I missed this. Wonderful tones .. great mood with the shadowed shoreline.""

John, I do know actually! I had misplaced yer "handle" and somehow lost track of it! I will send a note so we can e-msg also!

I like this shot enough to add it to my theme!

take care,

Jay

PS WE need to talk abt SD!

gunbud (34066) 2007-09-29 21:02

Hi John,
Beautiful scene with the rich colors radiating in layers of complimentary blue and good. You have captured a very special moment at day's beginning.
Regards, Tom

Didi (61589) 2007-10-01 11:22

Hi John
Well well !
Very strange sky with interesting reflections on the lake.
Good idea for waiting for this wonderfull moment.
Well done.
Cheers.

anes_lc (14968) 2007-10-01 11:29

hi john
what a great feeling your picture express ...gorgeause capture
the light is perfect
thanks share
regards,anes

Emiel_Skyfreak (3002) 2007-10-02 14:24

Magical John..

These rays of light from behind the clouds are magnificent. Glad you catched it..so it's good you woke up that early and droe in a hurry to not miss it (be careful though doing this everytime) Good colours and nice silhouette, the sharpness is also proper. I think I would crop of a bit from the bottom, despite that a lovely image.
Well done.

vinu (129) 2007-10-03 13:58

Hi John.

What a brilliant shot..
Beauty in colours.
I love this effect in frame.
vinushka

tap2578 (15) 2007-10-27 19:23 [Comment]

Show Comment

woladorsky (806) 2007-11-05 4:35

just beutyful!! no more comments

regards

Rolando

woozbman (368) 2007-12-27 11:51

Hi John,
Very unique sunrise, I have to say. Glad you did not miss it.
Best regards,
Lamberto

knowdebu (964) 2008-01-29 8:53

Hi John,
This something really amazing! The rays of the sun looks like an artwork by a graphic artist, so neat and so accurate.Superb capture!
regards
Debabrata

LAPIAZ (3144) 2008-12-17 7:22

What a spectacular effect !!!!
best regards,
Anna

marcdemoulin (1870) 2009-01-14 11:51

What amazing conditions!! A great shot John!
Marc

Photo Information

Copyright: John McLaird (jmcl) (14535)
Genre: 地方
Medium: 彩色
Date Taken: 2007-09-02
Categories: 自然
Camera: Olympus E 300
Exposure：f/4.5, 1/60 seconds
Photo Version：Original Version
Theme(s)：Waxing & Waning, Solar, Lunar, Stellar Shows, Lakes, Dawn and Sunset, Malignant Narcissism, Skyscapes II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-09-07 9:04
Favorites：4 [view]