In the badlands ...... Jerry Mercier

It was an hour before sunrise when I got to the east side of Badlands National Park.

Just in time.

I walked along the wall of eroded rock formations looking to create interesting images using the shapes and colors in the morning sky.

Occasionally I pointed my camera to the west, where pyramid shaped rocks caught the early morning light.

But I was pretty certain everything good was going to be to the east.

There were clouds to catch the light and color.

And the sun was just about to rise.

I was all alone as the sun broke the horizon and I laughed out loud when I realized just how cool this sunrise might be.

As the sun became visible in the gap between rock formations, I realized by moving my tripod a few inches or several feet I'd be able to control the placement and amount of sun in each frame. 

This was perfect. 

I could decide if the sun was left, right, or center in the frame and just how much I included.

I happily kept at it until the light started to get a bit flat. 

Then made a quick stop at one of my favorite spots, knowing the light wouldn't be the best. It was just good to be there, pictures or not.

Then I put the camera away, grabbed the tripod and made my way back to the car.

I knew if I hurried, I could make it to this spot before the shadows disappeared. I wanted to try adding a person to the image and did, but it didn't really work.

So, I went back to just badlands. What a great morning.

At Bond Falls ....... Jerry Mercier

Bond Falls is located in Michigan's Upper Penninsula near Paulding.

The Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River plunges 50 feet over the falls.

It's a great place to photograph, as a large boardwalk near the base of the falls and trails on either side of the river provide easy access.

Fall is a super time to visit, though I think it will be another week before there's good color at the base of the falls or along the river up above.

At sunrise ..... Jerry Mercier

 I got to a small lake in northern Wisconsin half an hour before sunrise.

The weather report called for 40% cloud cover and 3mph winds.

Lucky for me, they were right.

I quicky set up the tripod and got to work. 

I was hoping for more dramatic sunrise colors but was happy with the reflections and clouds that I got.

Only 25 minutes after I arrived, shortly after I made this image most of the clouds disappeared.

I stayed for half an hour more and captured these reflections on the other side of the lake.

A sunflower ...... Jerry Mercier

 I found one very good-looking sunflower in northern Wisconsin a few days ago.

It was evening and already in shadow when I first saw it, so I thought I'd photograph it the next afternoon. I didn't. 

It was rainy, windy and overcast for the next two days. Finally, on the third day the sun was out, so I gave it a try.

Lucky for me the flower was no worse for wear and still looked great.

It was one of eight plants and the only one with good color and attractive petals.

(Though several bumble bees visited while I made these photos and they seemed to find them all attractive.)

The temperature was 83 degrees and felt hot.

I wanted to ensure I created some decent images, as it would likely be my only chance to photograph sunflowers this year.

So I stayed at it. Trying different angles and compositions.

Shooting in full sunlight as well as in shade.

Occasionally the wind was pretty brisk and a moving flower doesn't make for sharp images.

So, I pressed on. 

Waiting for the sun to reappear and the wind to stop, if only for a minute.

And I'm glad that I did.

In the end I made several hundred photos of the sunflower that will take a bit of time to edit, but I already know I like eleven of them. 

Lake Superior sunrise ..... Jerry Mercier

Waiting on sunrise along the shore of Lake Superior near Washburn Wisconsin.

After a short wait a bit of color started to show.

As the sun tried to make it through the clouds the water turned silver with touches of hot pink on the horizon.

Just a few minutes later, dark clouds and fiery reds.

And then it was gone.

Leaving simple patterns and pastels.

And finally, a lone cloud along the shoreline.

At sunset... Jerry Mercier

I've shown up early to photograph more sunrises and sunsets than I can remember. 

More times than not things don't work out and the results are disappointing. This was not one of those times. 

I was in Yellowstone and waited for Old Faithful to erupt late in the afternoon.

As soon as Old Faithful was done erupting I got to my car and drove to the Lower Geyser Basin about fifteen minutes away.

I made a good choice and arrived in time to capture the sunset sky reflected in the terraced pools of Great Fountain Geyser.

It was a beautiful evening.

The only thing that could have made it any better, was if Great Fountain Geyser had erupted just then.

It didn't. So I continued to capture the beautiful sunset sky and colors.

I stayed until well after the sun dropped below the horizon.

Until most of the light was gone.

Finally I left Great Fountain Geyser and moved just down the road, stopping at White Dome Geyser. 

I stayed until the last color lit the clouds but not long enough for its next eruption.