Because of the first few pictures in this set, you will think that I lost my mind and that in post production I jammed the ‘saturation’ and color controls all the way to ‘eleven.’ (Does anyone get this joke?) The truth is that I de-saturated each somewhat because the colors were so intense, vivid and bright. It was the most amazing sunrise I had ever seen! Harkness State Park on the Connecticut side of the Long Island Sound keeps on amazing me, visit after visit, after visit.
Before viewing the photographs, I would also like to invite you to visit the poetry blog, the Book of Pain. As always, special thanks to my dearest Lyn, who does most of the photo selection. Thank you for dropping by the Book of Bokeh.
All photographs and comments ©2014 by John Etheridge with all rights reserved; not to be used without the expressed written permission of the copyright owner.
the Book of Bokeh 
Excellent work, John….
Rob, thank you very much!
Stunning!!
Thank you! You are kinder than I deserve, but thank you again, anyway! 🙂
John
I grew up along the shores of Long Island Sound. I could never mistake a rise for a set.
Lovely awakening. Ellen
On Long Island Sound? Wow! Lucky you! On the New York side or the RI/CT side? And I believe you, a soul as poetic as yours must ring like a bell at a beautiful sunrise or sunset!
Extraordinary John!!! Poetry for the eyes…..
Thank you dear! That is very kind and generous of you, as usual! When are you going to start posting so that I can form your fan club?! 🙂
Reblogged this on Amazing Fine Art and commented:
Outstanding!
Thank you so much!
The sunset captures are incredible! I love the second from the bottom, so poetic. 🙂
Amy, God bless you! That is my absolute favorite too! 🙂 I would have picked it for the entire set but it was not as representative of the day as the first one.
I really enjoy the sunrise pictures 🙂
Thank you so much! It was an awesome day. In fact I didn’t know how the pictures were turning out because I had little white spots floating in my eyesight from glances I kept taking of the sun and it was SO bright! 🙂
Don’t you use a lens hood with your camera ? And even with that it was too bright ? oh gosh.. It must have been really bright !!! The sun is really low these days and very “white”, so it hurts more than usual.
A lens hood is meant to stop sunspots showing in the photo that are caused by refraction in the lenses when the sun is coming in from the side. It will not shut down the amount of light getting into the lens…for that you need a Neutral Density Filter. And though I had one, at the time, I wanted all that glorious light. Clearly I was, Blinded by the Light because “that’s where the fun is!’. 🙂
I see ! I don’t have a Neutral Density Filter, maybe I should invest in one.
I didn’t know that song 🙂 I couldn’t help myself and I listened to the original version as well !
A neutral Density filter (I have two…a medium one and a very strong one) are great for water pictures especially. It slows the shutter down long enough to give you that ‘silky’ look. What I did was buy a series of step up rings for all my lenses; then all I have to do is buy one filter and it works on each of them. Highly recommended!
As to the song, I am not surprised that you do not know it…and that just says everything you need to know about my age. I still remember having a pet dinosaur when I was young. Word. 🙂
Hahaha, you are silly ! Thanks for the information about the filters. Right now, I’m trying to upgrade my camera, so I may have to wait a little for this filter 🙂
A new camera? If you shoot Canons, I love my 70D. It’s an APS-C but I take that as a plus, not a minus. The new 7D II is now out and while it is gorgeous, it is also $1200 more than the 70D (?!) and , personally, I question of the better or extra features are worth it. I highly recommend the 70D. If you want to go downscale from that, the T5i is a great camera too, and the T6i should be out soon too. In any event, good luck!
I shoot Nikon 🙂 I’m so used to their body that I can’t imagine switching brand and then.. my lovely 50 mm will be useless 🙂
you…shoot…Nikon?!?!? (Are you allowed to visit a Canon site?! Isn’t there something in the purchase agreement that says we are now enemies? Damn, that’s a shame, and you were such a nice person too!) 🙂
All joking aside, Nikon makes great cameras and of course the investment in lenses is something you cannot walk away from. To be honest, I fell into Canon by the merest of chances. If I knew then what I know now I’d probably have bought a Nikon. The D7100 is arguably the best bang-for-the-buck APS-C DSLR on the market today and I just get the feeling that Nikon is hungrier than Canon and delivering better cameras with each generation. Whatever your choice, good luck!
What a gorgeous sunset….and I especially love the starburst through the trees 😻😻
Thank you, me too! I am ashamed to say how many shots it took to get it like that, but eventually it happened.
I have taken over hundred and never managed a perfect star so I love your shot 😻😻
A lot has to do with the lens and sheer luck. (It’s not quite the same effect, but you can also cheat you know and buy a filter with little crosses scratched on it to crack the light into stars.)
A sun worshiper wouldn’t take better images 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Me, a sun worshiper? I was born in Newfoundland, Canada. I always told my mother that there was a mix up in the hospital and that living somewhere in Florida (the son of a rich family…that’s an important point) was a guy born on about the same day at the same hospital as me while his parents were in Newfoundland on vacation. The point of this is that this guy hates the sun and heat and would love to live in a place that is damp and cold because he feels naturally at home there. For some odd reason, she never bought it, although I am still convinced it is true. Honestly, it is the only explanation. 🙂 Yeah, I love the sun and heat!
Interesting theory… I always loved desert 🙂
See?!?! These mixups happen all the time! 🙂 I just hope that rich dude is using my wealth wisely..
🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Wow, such a pleasant sun rise and a great collection of photos.
Thank you so much! You are always so kind and generous, it means a lot to me!
🙂
Pluperfection!
“Pluperfection”? Oh, now that one I steal outright! And, of course, thank you very much! 🙂
Great !!
You are very kind, thank you!