Derek Montgomery Photography >> Blog » Sunrise

Katy + Jon :: Duluth, MN Engagement Photography

DRock — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:50:55 +0000

Sometimes things get so busy in September and October around here that the only time for an engagement session is at sunrise. Sometimes that's a really good thing. Most of the time I'll shoot engagement sessions in the evening since that is the light I like best, but shooting at sunrise offers some unique pictures that you can't get other times of the day. I tried shooting one of these a couple months ago, but the sunrise came with thunderstorms and clouds. BOOOO!!!! This time we were luckier. We had a spectacular sunrise for Katy and Jon's engagement session. If you live here in Duluth and haven't seen a Lake Superior sunrise, then you are really missing out. It's awesome.

Miranda + Michael :: Duluth, MN Engagement Photography

DRock — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:49:51 +0000

When I first talked to Miranda and Michael, they were on a tight timeline. Michael had to depart for Arizona to go back to school so engagement photos had to happen in short order. Usually that's not an issue. However, when I first talked to them, it was the two weeks before my own wedding (did I mention I'm married now? more on that later) and that is typically the time when you realize everything you thought you had done is only 25% of what you need to have done. In other words, it was a chaotic time.

Enter the sunrise engagement session. All the wedding preparation typically takes place at just about any other time than six in the morning so this worked perfectly. On August 19th, the sun rises at about six in the morning so we made it out there bright and early. Of course it was thunderstorming so the whole warm-glow-of-the-sunrise-photos were out the door. Despite this hiccup, everything went awesome, the sky cleared up 45 minutes after sunrise and we were able to make our way around Park Point, Lester Park and spaces in between. Maybe it's just me, but doesn't Michael look a tad bit like Daniel Tosh? I thought so. I'll end on that note. Congrats Miranda and Michael and see you guys at your wedding next September!

Sea Smoke :: Duluth, MN

DRock — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:42:46 +0000

When the temperature in Duluth gets insanely cold, sea smoke rises from Lake Superior and shrouds the shoreline and anything out in the water in an eerie mist. On a simpler level, it's basically fog formed when very cold air moves over warmer water. The same principle leads to lake-effect snow.

I have no idea how in the previous three years that I've been up here that I never made it down to the shore or up along Skyline Parkway to photograph this amazing event. I have no doubt I will be returning later this week for some more shots. To get these, I had to rise at 530 a.m. and drive down to Canal Park. I made it there way too early as I waited in the parking lot for almost an hour before any light broke through the horizon. At about 7 a.m., the parking lots began filling with other people who had the same idea as me. They lugged their tripods, cameras, jackets and mittens out to the shore to capture what in my mind is one of nature's most awesome spectacles around these parts. The temperature when I stepped out of the house this morning was a balmy 21 below zero with wind chills approaching 35 below. Beautiful day.

The shots of the lighthouse were taken in Canal Park while the shots from above were taken along Skyline Parkway. Next time I am going to have to remember to bring my tripod as I missed some cool shots right when the light was breaking through, but I'm both happy with my first effort and in awe of what Mother Nature shows us each and everyday.