The Moon and the Sun on Halloween Morning

I wanted to try out some new equipment so I set up camp at a nearby state park lake, well before dawn. 

While getting prepared I was surrounded by four distinct, varied hoots of owls

that I wish came into sight.  But that's okay; just hearing them thrilled me.

Here's what the moon looked like on this early Halloween morning.

The sky began to brighten way before the sun actually rose.

It was freezing cold!!

I love the sleepy ambience the lights across the lake give off.

Little by little more color enters the scene.

Looking toward the north, the earth, sky and water were still tinted blue.

...and to the south, as well...

And then a change occured!

These Mute Swans seemed to appear out of nowhere, floating passed me through the mist.

Contrary to their name, they let their presence be known with a trumpeting sound.



More hues have been added to the palette--new colors were mixed right before my eyes!

Moments before the sun actually popped onto the horizon, the colors and formations in the sky changed quite rapidly, reflecting on the water as well.  Faint rays began to ascend from where the sun was rising.

With the clashing of sun and darkness and dark clouds rolling in, things began to get

intensely dramatic with the sun now visible through the trees.

Views north and south.

Then the sun played peek-a-boo before it burst forth in all it's morning glory!

Wow!  Good Morning!

As if having a race with the sun, this duck quickly swam out of the mist into the golden reflection before me.

With a final look north, I smiled to see these cormorants also witnessing the unfolding of the morning.

Two very cold hours had flown by between my arrival and departure.

As I headed into town, I couldn't help but notice the rays, now more pronounced,

shooting downward from the clouds which hid the now-risen sun.  

I shot this through the windshield of my car. 

No sooner did I snap that picture, when two birds then flew into view

putting a finishing touch on my morning's photography.

Glaura B!