Missing The Sun

This picture was taken at Cape May Point. More specifically, the beach entrance to St. Peter’s by the Sea beach. I was wandering around Cape May Point, when I stumbled upon this location. I love the entrance—the way the fence curves and the almost hidden entry.

Initially, when I went there, I was going for a sunrise image. As you can see, that did not happen. It’s not because there wasn’t a beautiful sunrise or because cloud cover obscured the view, but because I was unaware of my positioning. I, simply, missed the mark and chose a location where the sun didn’t rise over the water—instead it rose over the land.

There is an app for phones and web browsing that allows you to see the position of the sun throughout the day. IF I had used it, I would’ve known about where to go for the kind of shot I was looking for. The app is called The Photographer’s Ephemeris.

Fortunately, I stuck around the location even though I wouldn’t have a shot with the sun in it. The light was beautiful! Blues, pinks and purples throughout the sky. When the sun rose, the light hit the fence, from the side, adding a nice glow.

Quickly, I setup my camera, adjusting the setting, and took a series of photos. When I got back to my pc and saw the image, I was happy. I think the shot worked. I love the colors.

Most of the time, I tend to try to shoot at sunrise. I just love to watch as the sun comes up, signaling the start of another day. Now, I have learned, that I don’t need the sun in every shot I take to make them compelling. Indirect sunlight can make for a beautiful picture too. I’ve learned that the colors before the sun rises are beautiful and that I can capture them as well. AND I’ve learned to use The Photographer’s Ephemeris to help me plan my shots.

If you’re interested in the app, you can find it at: https://www.photoephemeris.com/

So, that’s the story behind this photo.

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