Sunrise Over The Sea 12-18-2013

Early morning out over open water offers some of the most dynamic lighting you can photograph, especially when offshore storm clouds linger on the horizon. I walked out to the ship railing right at dawn to catch the rising sun breaking through a thick bank of marine clouds. The morning beams shifted second by second as the sun climbed higher, illuminating the water surface.

Golden sunbeams burst through a narrow break between heavy charcoal clouds, casting crepuscular rays straight down onto the calm ocean surface below. Rich amber and yellow light contrasts against the dark cloud banks, highlighting gentle swells across the open sea horizon.