Friday, October 31, 2008

Heavens Above

Dawn Displays Her Pink Ribbons

Photographs copyright: DAVID MCMAHON


This sequence of shots was just a lucky result. They were taken last Friday, literally a few minutes after I had entered my link on this site for last week’s Sky Watch post.

I switched the computer on and I walked into the kitchen, as I always do each morning. The sun had not yet risen, but I could see some interesting bands of thick grey cloud across the horizon. I knew there was a chance that there would be some arresting colours to shoot a few minutes later.


After I’d done a few things on the computer and around the house, I checked the sky again from the kitchen window. This time I could see faint daubs of pink across the bottom of each cloud band. I knew that in a few minutes there would be a dramatic display of colours, but I also knew that it was one of those windy mornings when the hues would disappear rapidly.

About five minutes later, the pink started to intensify, so I picked up my camera and walked out into the back yard, where I shot four frames. Then I decided to walk to the front of the house for a different aspect and perhaps a wider range of colours.

I was outside for less than three minutes. All up, I took eight shots and when I walked around to the back door, the colours had gone completely and all that was left was grey cloud patterns. That’s the thing with Nature - you sometimes have to be very quick to capture its greatest beauty.

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

59 comments:

Maggie May said...

What brilliant good fortune and what a brilliant sunrise. Worth getting up early for.
Wonderful pictures.

Hilary said...

Gorgeous colours. And a nice clear view too. What a great way to start your day.

Daryl said...

Oh the colors make my mouth water ... and I am so looking forward to next week here when we turn the clocks back and I can get some of that color on my way to the bus ...

Happy Weekend, DM!

:-Daryl

Leslie: said...

I don't think I've ever seen colours like that in our sky around here. Stunning pinks! So glad you took the time to catch the beauty of nature as it passed over your house so that you could share it with us.

cheshire wife said...

Absolutely stunning! Is that what heaven looks like?

Unknown said...

you know, i never would have thought that pink and purple could go together so perfectly.

What a gorgeous sky!

larkswing said...

Amazing sunrise! Absolutely beautiful!

Rachelle said...

Simply Stunning as usual David!
Slainte~
Rachelle

Cheffie-Mom said...

WOW! WOW! What beautiful colors. What a beautiful morning. (:

Luke Dockery said...

Great pictures David.

I dunno, you sure seem to credit a lot of your shots to “being lucky.”

You’re always looking for opportunities, and you’re able to take advantage of them when they appear, so I think you can take a little of the credit!

Expat mum said...

Ooh, moody and fabulous. Being a good photographer means knowing what to look for -which I never do.

Mrs. O said...

Completely gorgeous! Makes me wish I had your view, thanks for sharing it with us.

There's something about the pinks you only find in a sunset.

MarmiteToasty said...

How strange to log on here and find you are already in Friday and its still Thursday here....

What beautiful photos....

x

Anonymous said...

Abso-bloody-lutely lovely,David.Such colours! What a great gift you have and thanks for sharing your vision.

~**Dawn**~ said...

Wow. Just... wow.

Anne said...

The sky is burning over you :-)

Really nice colours.

Nice weekend to you from Anne in Norway.

Charles Gramlich said...

Gorgeous hues. Beautiful.

Saz said...

Fabulous skies, the colour real Schiaperelli shocking pink (a fashion term)...love it..the sky is on fire!!

Anonymous said...

Okay Mr Photographer - you did it again/still/more. What a beautiful series. I love how you are able to anticipate the possibility of color. Thanks for capturing it for us! Simply stunning.

Juliana RW said...

lovely pink sky

Mine SWF post in HERE. Hope you have time to visit. Thanks.

Guy D said...

Great shots as always david. Thanks for sharing!

Cheers!
Regina In Pictures

Woman in a Window said...

Ya, the transcience of nature. This morning my son told me to put it in high gear and get to the bathroom to capture some cool light. A couple minutes later he said exasperated, Never mind mom, you missed it!

He's six. He's smart!

Texas Travelers said...

Beautiful !!!!!

GreenJello said...

Looks like the pinks that visited me last week came to pay you a visit, too!

Reds make for beautiful sunrises, but I always think, "Red skies at morning, sailor take warning!"

:)

Bear Naked said...

WOW!!!!
I was wondering something.
Here in Canada we have that old saying
"Red sky at Night
Sailors delight.
Red sky in the Morning
Sailors take warning"

My question is, in Australia when you have such vibrant red skies like that in the morning, does it mean a storm is coming soon?

Bear((( )))

Colin Campbell said...

We have had many similar sunrises here in Adelaide. A great fortune for us early risers.

Coloradolady said...

Wow. you can not beat a sky like that. The colors are amazing.

Louise said...

What an amazing sky. I love it when the morning surprises me like that!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Beautiful colors. Everyone should get up for a sunrise like that--they can siesta later.
Marnie

Deb said...

I don't think I have ever seen a morning sky quite that colorful! If I do, I am going to wake up everyone in the house so they can witness it also! How could anyone feel grouchy in the morning if they were looking at that sky? Enjoy.

Millennium Housewife said...

How beautiful David, although couldn't help laughing at the title, Hugh Hefner would be proud! MH

Kat said...

WOW!
That is unbelievable. Absolutely stunning.

Barb said...

The second shot is pure perfection! Brilliant!

Kahshe Cottager said...

What a sequence! I need to start getting up earlier! What a wonderful start for your day.

Photo Cache said...

Vivid colors, so wonderfully captured.

Pat - Arkansas said...

My comment section should be completely blank, because I'm truly speechless before the awesome beauty of this sky! Thanks for sharing, David.

virtualjourney said...

Worth getting up early to see sunrises at the moment....this is a fire cracker!

Cape Cod Washashore said...

Fabulously stunning, rich & vivid skies, David!

katherine. said...

sigh.
gorgeous.

imac said...

Well spotted and caught Sir.

bowledover said...

Well done David, you caught these lovely pictures well. Its amazing how quickly everything changes.Thank you for sharing them with us.

PRH said...

Outstanding, and the clarity is the same!

Annie said...

yes, you do have to be quick...! Love those shots David...

I was out walking and admired a wonderfully pretty reflection of the sunset in the east...and a moment later..it was gone...!!

Annie

Unknown said...

Coincidence David, I did a sunrise this week too. Quite beautiful and yes you always have to be quick with sunrise

Arija said...

David, what superb sunrises! the colours are just amazing.
Thamks for the info. on your novel, I'll have to chase it up.

raf said...

Stunning, David! Lovely ribbons for sky watchers, even if for a moment....but you caught it this time for good. Well done!

Unknown said...

Great captures and stunning colours!

Have a nice weekend, David.

Michele said...

WHOA!! Super nice.... such amazing rich colors. My mountains get in the way of the sunrises so I get bits and pieces of the sky from the house... your photos are spectacular!
~Michele~
Mountain Retreat- Canada

Linda said...

Beautiful sky - and title.

Sandi McBride said...

Beauty disappears just that fast, doesn't it David. These are the most intense colors, so red...lovely shots
Sandi

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

Breathtaking! Only God could paint that sky!

Cath said...

Beautiful shots, reminiscent of what we perceive as alien skies.

Anonymous said...

I love the colors in your sky shot.

Paz

Jane Hards Photography said...

Put your modesty to one side. Tese are simply astonishing. Fortuntae yes to have the sky play ball, but photographing so sharplu under these light conditions is superb. Another world.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous looking skies with colorful clouds...TC

Jack and Joann said...

Your Sky Watch photos are a great red counterpoint to Fishing Guy's orange Great Pumpkin in the Sky photos for Sky Watch Friday.

I guess great photographers think alike.

Happy Halloween down under the world.

i beati said...

It was a regular day scrolling , scrolling and this took my breath away

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

David: Wonderful colors on your SWF, sorry I'm late in visiting.

Misty DawnS said...

This is an absolutely breathtaking sky! I'm so glad that you experienced this, because that means that we also get to experience it!