Sun Trail

I arrived at Monte Sano State Park this morning to find the gate closed.  I've been coming here to photograph the sunrise for over 5 years (back before we moved here) and it's never been closed before.  I was not happy.

Anyway, I drove back down the mountain to the Bankhead Trail and walked up for the sunrise.  Yes, that meant I was late.  Fortunately, it wasn't a great one and I don't think I missed anything. 

I found myself walking back down the Bankhead Trail after sunrise, turned around and saw this shot. We'll call it the golden lining to this cloud.

(Warning: Rant follows)

This is a perfect example of why I want a Photography Park.  The sunrise doesn't wait for the park to open.  And in the summer here — because we're in the Central Time Zone -- the sunrise will be over by 6AM (their opening time). Lest we forget, these are PUBLIC parks.  They are not the private parks  of people that can afford to live in neighborhoods close enough to walk in.  They are not businesses to be operated at a profit.  They belong to the People.  The taxes we pay have paid for them.  And guess what?  A lot of people like to watch the sunrise besides photographers.  There were 30 people watching this morning's from the overlook.  (You can see one of them walking out of the Sun in this picture.)

The situation in this park is even worse for the sunset.  But I'll stop here.  

A park created for photographers will be open for sunrise and sunset.  And for astrophotography.  It will be open for all that want to gaze at the stars and wait around all night for the sunrise if that is what they enjoy — photographers or not. 

Nikon D7200 — Nikon 18-300mm F6.3 ED VR

22mm

F22@2 seconds

ISO 400

White Balance on Flash

ROD_7126.JPG

©Don Brown 2023