Category Archives: Water

NATURE :: Sunrise Ocean Lightning

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Sunrise Ocean Lightning by Chip Bunnell Photography

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The ocean never ceases to amazing me. One minute I can be deep in slumber, knowing that just on the other side of the bedroom walls are the gentle waves lapping on the beach. Just seconds later I can awaken to wall-rattling booms of thunder, as lightning illuminates the entire room in a brilliant flash. Long before the rooster alarm sounded, that was exactly how our morning started.

At first, I seemed to be in a foggy state as I walked along the beach, surrounded by body-rumbling bangs. In my dream, they seemed to go on and on. After what seemed like hours, but was really only a few minutes, I realized I was sleeping through a delightfully powerful storm. Once I gathered my bearings, I finally grasped the rare opportunity to see lightning over the ocean during sunrise. With my trusty non-metal tripod in hand, I ventured on to the balcony to see if I could capture the magic of nature in my lens.

I made several interesting images, but this was my favorite. I loved the texture of the cloud ceiling with the morning sun forcing its way through. On the left, a single unstoppable bolt blasts the waiting ocean below. No lightning trigger or other such tool was available.   Once again, I am reminded that timing and preparation get results…with a little luck thrown in for good measure.

Photo Stuff: Single frame on a tripod, Processed in LR, PS and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com
(c) 2014 All Rights Reserved

Reflective Clouds on Delray’s Waterway

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Cloud reflections on Delray Beach Intracoastal WaterwayHalf way around the world, the best athletes in winter sports are competing. The excitement is contagious, even thousands of miles away from these Olympians. Once the sharp HD picture is turned off and the mobile news feeds are silenced, it is a very different local story on this quiet Monday morning in South Florida.

As I approached the beach prior to sunrise this morning, I looked over the sand to the awaiting ocean. Thick clouds hung at the horizon’s line. Something inside told me my image today was not to be made here. I slowly drove towards home and noticed the clouds reflecting on the almost eerily calm waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. A quick turn off the bridge and I was ready to make my frame.

This view always seems to draw me in. The clouds mirroring off the calm water is the first attraction. The simple, multi-story buildings create boundaries as they mark the water’s edge. Boats of all sizes add interest. A small aperture allows focus and detail to be seen, even in the smallest areas of the image. The oranges and yellows in the morning sky coupled with their mirror images below add a framed effect above and below. Even though the Olympic cheers area far away, there is still an equally strong enthusiasm as we greet this new morning.

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

www.ChipBunnell.com