Sonora Desert Sunrise Series #1

Sunrise over the Sonora Desert #1

Here is a series of interpretations of the one photo I took on a trip to the State of Sonora, Mexico at Chirstmas time 2002.

While driving the toll road down the state early in the morning the sun was just coming up. The mountain in the foreground was beautifully silhouetted and the clouds were full of energy and drama. I had to stop the car and take a photo.

In this series I have made various interpretations of the photo ranging from startling color, through sepia, to black and white. I hope you find something that appeals to your taste.

Click here for Sunrise Over the Sonora Desert Series

Sonora Desert Sunrise Series #2

Sunrise over the Sonora Desert #2

This sepia interpretation brings forth a lot of the drama and energy in the clouds. They appear to be boiling.

Sonora Desert Sunrise Series #3

Sunrise over the Sonora Desert

Beautiful cobalt blue sky and gold clouds set this interpretation apart.

Sonora Desert Sunrise Series #4

Sunrise over the Sonora Desert #4

In this black and white interpretation of the image I love how much drama comes out of the clouds.

Sonora Desert Sunrise Series #5

Sunrise over the Sonora Desert #5

A sepia interpretation of the image.

Sonora Desert Sunrise Series #7

Sunrise over the Sonora Desert #7

Blue and natural tones

Sonora Desert Sunrise Series #8

Sunrise over the Sonora Desert in Blue

Lake Cachuma Early Morning

I'm pretty pleased with how this photo turned out. It almost looks like a tone-mapped HDR image, but it's not. I was able to uncover all these gold tones and the contrast in the clouds with Photoshop.

Here are other photos I took at Lake Cachuma.

Terra Lago Sunrise

The previous photo was taken at Tera Lago at night. Here's how it looked in the morning as the sun rose. I love how the gold light was coming through from behind the arch in the bridge.

Sunrise Opitio Bay #4

Golden Sunrise Seascape Opito Bay

Opito Bay is located on New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula which is to the east of Auckland. This remote area of New Zealand is blessed with numerous beautiful beaches and is a favored retreat from Auckland.

Nikon E8700
1/320s at f7.4
ISO 50

Sunrise Opitio Bay #3

Opito Bay Coromandel Peninsula at Sunrise

When taking these photos of the sunrise at Opito Bay , since the sun was above the horizon and I was shooting right into the sun, I adjusted the camera to a very fast film speed equivalent (ISO 50) and took very short exposures. The result was the beautiful gold color you see in these photos.

Nikon E8700
1/320s at f7.4
ISO 50

Sunrise Opito Bay #2

Sunrise Seascape Opito Bay #2

Opito Bay is located in the Mercury Bay area of the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island. The bay is reached by a gravel road, and there are no shops at the bay so you have to bring all your provisions. You typically have the long sweeping beach all to yourself. I like this photo for the reflection of the sun in the wet sand and shallow water.

Nikon E8700
1/500s at f7.4
ISO 50

Sunrise Opito Bay #1

Sunrise Seascape

I have lived by the sea my entire life, for 30 years growing up and living in New Zealand, and then living in Hiroshima on the "Inland Sea" of Western Japan for four years at the beginning of the 1990s, and then moving to Southern California in the late 90s. It is no surprise then that I have photographed the sea on many occasions.

This photo of sunrise was taken at Opito Bay on the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island

Sunrise at Opito Bay

Photo of Sunrise at Opito Bay New Zealand

Opito Bay is located in the Mercury Bay area of the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island. I got to spend a couple of vacations at a beach house located right at the water's edge thanks to a good friend. This isolated beach was the perfect location for endless photos. Of course capturing the sunrise was a great treat. I like the sweep of cloud above the sea in this photo. Because I was shooting directly into the sun and with all that reflection off of the sea as well, I was shooting at a very fast film speed (ISO50), and at 1/700th second shutter speed. That's all very fast and the photos came out gold. Yes, it's true, the color of the photo has not been altered at all!

Nikon E870011/700s atf8.0ISO 50