Tag Archives: Florida

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

LOCATION :: Soft Moody Morning

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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