Sunrise is still coinciding with the start of my working day. It's not that I start that early, but our location in the South Downs means that the sun has to climb above the hills before we are blessed with its light. Technically the sun rose at 07:59 today. This shot was taken at 08:10.
And it was some seven minutes later that the sun had spread its gold across the pond, to the evident delight of this mallard.
The richness of the early morning light even creates new species, such as this gold-tipped gull 😉
It's quite a contrast from the middle of the day, when the light provides a blueish tint. That's a buzzard at the top of the first shot.
With the sun below the horizon, things are of course quite different. But the night has its own treasures, including the constellation Orion who stands high in the night sky during the winter months. Sirius (the dog star) is visible in the bottom left of the frame.
Camera note: all daytime shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. Orion was photographed with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens with a 10 second exposure.
Ukwildlife
12 Jan 2012nice shots
ICU109
12 Jan 2012oh what a silhouette!!!!! and the next one in flight, such color!!!! love it!
derWandersmann
13 Jan 2012A really fine bunch, Words!
That shot of the night sky is pretty amazing, too … would you mind supplying the EXIF on it? Is that the digital equivalent of Reciprocity Law Failure in the lower right?
claudeb
13 Jan 2012Fabulous photos, every single one of them. Nature never ceases to amaze.
serola
13 Jan 2012Pictures 2,3 and 4 are just awesome :wizard:
gdare
13 Jan 2012Second one :up: Like a phoenix :up: 😀
Words
13 Jan 2012Neil, thanks!
Words
13 Jan 2012dW, the shooting details are TV = 10s, AV 5.6, evaluative metering, ISO 800. The glow at the bottom right is light pollution. There's not a lot I can do about that, but I get some nice orange shots sometimes!
Words
13 Jan 2012Darko, thanks! It was a good moment, the second shot.
Words
13 Jan 2012Felix, thanks!
Words
13 Jan 2012Kathy, thanks! I was pleased with the silhouette and simply surprised by the colour on the gull's wings.
Words
13 Jan 2012Sami, thanks!
cakkleberrylane
15 Jan 2012The light is certainly spectacular! It's hard to pick a favorite! I used to do a bit of astro photography, very nice shot of Orion.
Words
16 Jan 2012Lois, thanks. I must set myself up to get the Plough as well. It's nice and high in the sky at the moment.
SittingFox
16 Jan 2012Gold-tipped gull – you'll have the twitchers jealous 😉
I've been enjoying Orion but I haven't got a photo of him so far this year.
Words
16 Jan 2012Adele, well you have to give them something to chase 😉 You may not have got Orion yet, but you did get all four moons of Jupiter a little while ago. 🙂