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The Water Before Dawn


The Water Before Dawn
Photo Information
Copyright: John McLaird (jmcl) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2589 W: 146 N: 3421] (11904)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-28
Categories: Nature
Camera: Olympus E 300, 58mm circular polarizer
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/80 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Skyscapes I, Dawn and Sunset, Rivers & Streams [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-17 9:11
Viewed: 674
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Water Before Dawn

Missouri River - Pickstown, South Dakota
Eagle Roost Natural National Landmark
Randall Creek Recreation Area
Just downstream of the Fort Randall Dam and Lake Francis Case.

A bit earlier the same morning as my image Missouri Dawn

A moment of narcissim: An image on some music of mine:
The Water Before Dawn

This is a stop I often take on my way to and from my parents place in South Dakota. It is situated just inside the South Dakota side of the state line with Nebraska.

The banks of the large river here are a preserve for Bald Eagles. The first time I passed this way I only had a little digicam with me and was surrounded by eagles .. I have all these pictures with distant 12 pixel eagles .. This summer morning .. none in sight .. but a wonderful peaceful dawn.

Some more info on the eagles:
In South Dakota, many bald eagles spend their winters below the Missouri River dams where they are able to catch fish and prey on waterfowl attracted to the open water.

They typically perch within 50 feet of the riverbank in tall cottonwood trees. The birds usually feed in the morning and rest in their roosting trees in the afternoon.
http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Regions/LewisClark/RandallCreek.htm

Some more information on the river:
The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the United States. The Missouri begins at the confluence of the Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin rivers in Montana, and flows into the Mississippi north of St. Louis, Missouri. At 2,341 mi (3,767 km)[1] in length, it drains approximately one-sixth of the North American continent. Depending on whether its length is reckoned from the headwaters of its sources (as the Mississippi's length is reckoned from Lake Itasca, Minnesota), or from their confluence where the Missouri is first so-named (at Three Forks, Montana), it is currently either the longest or second-longest river in the United States. Prior to the Pick-Sloan Program and channelization, it was unquestionably the longest river in the US. The combined Missouri-Mississippi river system is the third longest river in the world. According to statements from the Army Corps of Engineers, in an average year, the Missouri River provides about 45 percent of the flow of the Mississippi past St. Louis. The mean flow of the Missouri at its mouth is approximately 35,000 cfs, compared to 47,000 cfs of the Mississippi below the Illinois River, which joins about 17 miles north of the confluence. Its volume on average is also less than that of the Ohio River, another tributary of the Mississippi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_River
Buin, lilimih33, plimrn, scobert, japiey, jonathan_hart, stego, orme, UnTrained, Cretense, Angelillo has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Buin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3561 W: 0 N: 7183] (25072)
  • [2007-05-17 9:20]

Hallo John!
By and by you are getting a master of atmospheric photos! This one is nearly breathtaking beautiful. Such a "warm" blue is nearly incredible. One can hear the calm ... Really beautiful!
Greetings from rainy Germany!
Frank

Superb tones of blue and pink. A very simplistic but highly effective scene. It's so tranquil and beautiful. Love it.
Best wishes
Mark

Hi John, it is a really nice atmospheric photo, these color tons give a nice impress with this light.
You captured it in a nice sweet time.
Cheers
Evan

Hi John,
Waouh ! very nice and impressive shot !
Wonderful,
Regards, Gilles

Hello John!
Great colours and reflexion in your composition!
Very calm atmosphere!
Excellent done!
Lili

  • Great 
  • plimrn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3748 W: 232 N: 5030] (15911)
  • [2007-05-17 12:22]

Hi John,
The light is magic in the well-framed composition. I especially like the way the wide curve of the river is framed by the tree silhouettes. HLJ, Pat

Hello John,
A really outstanding image! Beautiful but subtle lighting and your masterful "minimalistic" composition. I'll bet that you were thinking of the Lewis and Clark expedition when you were here also. Great work!
Stan

Hi, John,
wonderful scene!! It breathes calm and peace. I love the blue tone with just a tinge of lavendar. Perfect sharpness on limbs and branches. This is terrific! Kindest regards,
Shelly

  • Great 
  • stego Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3747 W: 629 N: 5015] (15266)
  • [2007-05-17 21:09]

Hi John,
I didn't expect it was so wonderful by looking at the thumbnail! It's a great compo and I sense on it an intense mood of peace of beauty.
Regards, José.

  • Great 
  • orme Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2014 W: 139 N: 1496] (6596)
  • [2007-05-18 2:16]

This is a truly beautiful shot, John.
I love the tranquil mood of the scene and the scale of the shot is impressive.
Amazing colours. Well captured.

Hi John.

Ohhh...this makes such a lovely feel...great image.
The colours, warm and sensual lights..everything perfect.
And, now it's time for me to dream..
Thank you, for this amazing dream.

jean paul

:)

Hi John,
very romantic, very dreamy. A good place for such a capture. I like how you placed the silhouettes before the water and the sky.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

hi John
not easy light to catch, well managed with nice tones, good composition *****
regards
jo

Hi John!

Excellent composition, magin in its simplicity! Marvellous colour tones from blue to deep purple. Congratulations!

Hercules

  • Great 
  • danyy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 7422 W: 441 N: 10319] (52580)
  • [2007-05-19 10:37]

Bonjour John,
le calme fait partie de ma personalité, je suis quelqu'un qui aime la détente, la solitude, le silence.
C'est une photo qui me plait beaucoup car elle symbolise tout cela.
Un paysage grandiose photographié d'un endroit privilégié.

Amicalement.
Daniel.

Hi John,

The magic blue at the sunset. The gradiant colors are really amazing. The compo is beautiful, the dark silhouette at the foreground is a very good resource for give even more depth. It's a truly wonderful shot. Take care,

Angel.

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