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Neon Sunrise
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Neon Sunrise

by Russell Colletta

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 25, 2013205 views5 comments
I went to see the Sandhill Crane migration in southern Colorado. I was looking forward to getting onto the wildlife refuge at sunrise and capture the birds with morning light for a background. However, rules prohibit getting in the refuge until official sunrise, so I sat there outside the gate watching the sky explode in color. Instead of getting a bird shot, this landscape had to do. Didn't John Denver sing about seeing it rain fire in the sky in Colorado? Okay here's a case for his inspiration. This is one image processed in Lightroom. I was all set up to catch BIF, so forgot to lower the ISO, but seems to work okay on this camera. That purple light is a pretty authentic look at the light hitting the mist rising above the wetlands.

Life is about to enter another phase where good photo trips will be hard to come by, other priorities prevail but it's all good. So, this will have to hold me for awhile.

D600, 70-200 at 175, ISO 1000 f5.6 at 1/80

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Russell Colletta on March 25, 2013 at 11:40 AM
There are birds in this image, they're peppering the horizon. So maybe it's a bird shot after all!
Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on March 25, 2013 at 9:57 PM
What a color show!! Love the birds in it too. I'd be tempted to tone the purple down just a hair since the red and oranges are so wild anyway.
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by Russell Colletta on March 25, 2013 at 10:50 PM
Thanks Mark. This is some wild color and I guess might qualify as the little brother to the image Morris posted. It's a 14 bit raw file processed in Lightroom 4 with no saturation adjustment and +45 vibrance. The FG was brightened but has no color enhancement. First one I've done in awhile that might actually need some toning down. This was an amazing moment.
Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Baker on March 26, 2013 at 12:25 AM
That is one amazing light show! I really like the texture in the clouds too
Registered on May 3, 2012, 23 Posts, 64 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on March 26, 2013 at 11:13 PM
Man that is intense! Great colors and just another winter sunrise in Colorado.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments