iPhone 6s back camera 4.15mm
f/2.2
1/230 sec
ISO-100
On the shores of Lake McDonald. I think words along with a photograph tell a complete story. In this picture, the sunrise is the most beautiful one I ever experience in my fifty years. However, what you as the viewer may not realize is we went through a lengthy list of coincidences and planning to experience this incredible sunrise. Let’s start with, this is our first ever visit to Glacier National Park. Next, previous to this day we awake in the predawn hours of 4 am on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and another Friday with uneventful results in capturing a sunrise. On multiple days we brave 25-30 mile per hour predawn winds with bone chilling temperatures in the lower 40’s. Melody chases me around as I try finding the perfect photographic spot, with some misses like not getting an object in the foreground. Me trying to figure out the right camera settings on my new DSLR camera, again with some misses.
And finally, this morning. On the night before, we were feeling iffy regarding driving back into the park from Kalispell on our last day since the trip adds another two hours driving time when we return to Missoula. At 3:30 am I wake without the alarm clock going off, a good sign but I notice I am lukewarm in my motivation. Melody notices too but encourages us to go. We go.
After driving forty-five minutes and entering the park around 5 am, the road hugs the fifteen-mile lake and I see predawn reflections in the water; probably the first time all week the lake is calm. As I drive, from experience, I see the potential of a spectacular sunrise due to a break in the clouds on the horizon and overhead. I suddenly decide to pull over. I rush out of the car leaving Melody behind and make my way down a steep ledge and through some trees to the lakeshore. I set my camera up. I swat some mosquitoes away, actually many mosquitoes. Oops I forgot the bug spray.
Minutes later, I see the first traces of pink in the sky and quickly go get Melody out of the car to come join me. I carefully help her down the slick dirt slope. Within moments, we see more faint glimpses of color; and then, in one brief second, God turns on His bedroom light to greet the day. Wow! The sky fills with pinks, reds, yellows and oranges. And then, WHOA, the most intense orange sunrays illuminate the sky like a flashlight!!! We just sit there with our mouths open wide. The intensity continues to ramp up. We hear multiple people stop their cars, jump out, scurry down to the shoreline and ooo and aww in amazement! In less than five minutes the display is over.
I sometimes wonder if this is a glimpse of how God rewards the faithful. Maybe He too wants to see the desire for us to experience Him but not unless we are able to rise at 3:30 am. Not unless we brave bone chilling cold. Not unless we persist in coming to Him every day. And yes, sometimes, not unless we are willing to fight off the mosquitoes.
EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
f/22
1/25 sec
ISO-3200
Tripod
