A Day of Gratitude

Image

Sunrise on Delray Beach by Chip Bunnell Photography

Click to Enlarge – See the Details

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. Family, Friends and great Food. What’s not to love? While I consider myself thankful and have always loved this special day for its true meaning, it is my beautiful bride that has set a new bar for me reach.

Simply put, she is the most thankful person I have ever met. She sees joy in everything she sees. She wakes up with a smile and carries it the entire day. Early in our relationship she told me how Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday. After all, “its an entire day devoted to gratitude.” Those are truly wise words and, because of her, ones that I try to apply to each day.

Like the pilgrims and indians centuries ago, let’s open our homes and share with others. Let’s give thanks for the countless gifts we have been given. Let’s let this Thanksgiving be not a single day, but the start of a lifetime of gratitude and sharing.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Photo Stuff:  3 Frame HDR, Processed in LR and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com

LOCATION :: Soft Moody Morning

Image

Moody beach morning by Chip Bunnell PhotographyThere is no doubt that I am fortunate enough to live in, what I feel is, paradise. The famed rich blue waters and soft sandy beaches are the the stars of countless postcards. Perpetual sun and fun in the belief of how many live their lives in South Florida. For some, that is actually pretty accurate. We are blessed with the climate and natural resources to make that belief a reality. But is every day really like that? Is it really 365 of sun and calm blue oceans? Hardly, but is that really a bad thing? All good questions….

The answer, in my humble opinion, is no, it is not a bad thing to have a few windy, rainy days. That may sound kind of crazy, but stay with me. You see, without the rainy days, the truly spectacular sunfilled moments would become nothing short of routine. Without a few days of gray, the blue would be the norm and not appreciated or enjoyed. But does that mean there is no beauty in the gray days and we should wait for the sun? Again, the answer is no. Confused? How can a gray, windy day still have beauty?

I like this image as it shows a blend of a not-so-postcard day (and trust me, that is being kind), while at the same time showing the beauty from the textures. The long exposure changes the waves from menacing swirls of fury to a soft frosty flow. The thick clouds flowed overhead with a hint of a hidden colorful sunrise revealed on the edges. The solid pier gives a stationary reference point as the forces move about. While this may not be a sunny postcard day, there is still beauty in the moment fueled by anticipation of the next spectacular postcard scene to come.

Photo Stuff: Single frame with a variable ND filter, Processed in LR and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com