Sunday, November 27, 2011

Short story of sacrifice for Sunset Sunday shot

Sunsets arrive at a bit of an awkward time at this point on the calendar - right around dinner time. While my wife still doesn't understand why anyone would need to get more sunset shots when they already have so many to choose from, she did sacrifice dinner time together recently. I set out alone to a nearby park - dogs weren't allowed there.

I wasn't alone long. As I trekked along a wilderness trail, the entrance of which was marked by a sign showing an alligator chasing a dog and its owner, I soon became aware of the scourge of Florida salt marshlands at dusk - the ubiquitous no-see-um. I thought I had protected myself against these minuscule pests with a voracious appetite by liberally applying a 98% deet ointment, but by next morning I discovered all the unprotected places that they had discovered. The itch finally disappeared after 7 days and the bite marks after 10.

I thought the sunset was worth it. My wife doesn't understand.

(10-22mm  f5.6  1/200 sec  ISO200)



For more superb Sunset Sunday shots, be sure to visit Scott's blog.

37 comments:

PETRO50 said...

A great shot. Overall, it looks like photos from a dream. Great. I like sunsets and colors. Have a nice day, my friend. / Peter.

Cloudia said...

that is a great shot you will be proud of for years - still, I hates da itch!

nice one
Aloha from Waikiki

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BlueShell said...

Poor you...7 days? 10 days...wow!!!

I can see why your wife doesn't undesrtand...LOL

I enjoyed your visit and your gentil words, really.
Tank you!

Have a nice day...and ...take care, man!

darlin said...

Rick I don't know quite how you do it, but you continue to outdo your sunset shots. As I'm sure you know, I adore sunsets, this is by far the best shot of one I've ever seen...I totally get it, no-see-ums and all. I'm glad to hear you've got the itch under control, that's crazy making when it's an itch that just won't go away, been there before and hope to never experience that ever again.

Have a fantastic week, if you get bored and possibly tire of the heat you can always come indoors where it's air conditioned and write an essay for me! lol

Amelia said...

Hi Rick, sorry to hear about you being attack by the minuscule pests. The itch must be torturing for past week? But to click this superb, excellent sunset shots I think is worth the bite.
Thank you so much for sharing this really beautiful shot, I like it very much.
Have a nice day. Cheers!

Costea Andrea Mihai said...

beautiful colors and composition! good work!

Lúcia said...

I'm glad to know you're a brave man!
Each sunset is unique, isn't it?!
Have a good week Rick! ;-)

Elizabeth Grimes said...

Wow, that is true dedication! It's an amazing shot Rick. Thanks for braving the elements and sharing it with us!

Anonymous said...

I've never heard of those lil critters... we have to worry about seed ticks & chiggers, oh, & mosquitoes, too. Seed ticks & chiggers are very hard to see... sounds like the same aftermath.

Beautiful sunset =)

Scott Law said...

Rick, another beautiful and peaceful scene. It's hard to imaging that being broken up by the no-see-ums. They are prolific at the Great Salt Lake and usually precede the Mosquitoes by a week or two. It's good of your wife (and mine) to tolerate all the sunset shots.

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

Rick, your shots keep getting better and better. I think your wife is a trooper! Those no-seeums are a pain in the butt.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Thanks for making that sacrifice so I could see this beautiful picture.What a view!

Fábio Martins said...

Too much sharp but with a nice framework

My name is Riet said...

Prachtig Rick. die zonsondergang. Mooie kleur.

Dawn said...

oh WOW! THAT was Worth it for sure !!!
Did you make up mealtime with her?:D
(It's funny to hear our family members lament and ask why whenever we stop the usual life stuff for a capture.)
This is truly beautiful!

ju-north said...

They say you have to suffer for your art! Beautiful!

Leslie said...

glad it was just no-see-ums! (i thought you were going to say an alligator followed you!)

gorgeous sunset capture.

ioan moldovan said...

Gorgeous image! Sun reflection in the water is wonderful!
Many greetings!

Marty said...

what a merveilleux place ! I love so much sunsets too and this one is really fabuleux !!!
I love this image with that horizon orange and the beautiful leaves in the first plan!! les reflets in the water, like a miroir ! yes, all is
wonderful ! I would like to dream
there ! thank you Rick
bisous doubles in the miroir et orange comme un sunset ! hop !

Anonymous said...

Great Shot! I enjoyed looking at it without the bugs.

Rick said...

Thank you, Peter - I appreciate your visits and comments !

Mahalo, Cloudia - I've never had an itch as bad as from these little buggers ! Aloha !

Obrigado, Blueshell ! LOL - my wife thinks I'm crazy !

Thank you, Darlene ! I'd seen this place the week before and decided it must look nice at sunset - DESPITE the no-see-ums ! Yep - 1 week of Benadryl ointment put on 4-5 times/day keeps the itch sorta under control. Ha ha - you wouldn't want me to write your essays (although I can give the old BS a try ! ;-) Hope your week is turning out great !

Rick said...

Hi Amelia - yep, I get a reaction to the bites (my wife doesn't !!) but I found an ointment that helps ease the itch. Thank you for your kind words.

Thank you very much, Costea !

I'm not sure about brave, Lúcia - but certainly foolish enough to endure bites to get a sunset ;-) Thank you kindly.

Can you tell my wife that, Elizabeth ? ;-) Thanks.

Rick said...

Thanks Tricia - yep, mosquitoes love me too (although they don't make such a lasting impression ;-) I can't imagine what use any of these creatures serve other than to feed birds - but can't birds just stick to seeds and worms ??

Thank you, Scott. Yep - the no-see-ums tough to swat when you're trying to line up a shot - I usually don't discover their 'handiwork' until much later. I think our wives have a lot in common ;-)

Thank you, Kyria ! I'll mention that to my wife ;-) As for the 'pain in the butt', I think that's about the only area that they didn't get me !

Thank you, Ruth !

Rick said...

Obrigado, Fábio !

Dank je wel, Riet. Fijne woensdag.

Thanks, Dawn ! Yep - I made it up (and I try not to look too long at sunsets these days while we're having dinner out on the lanai ;-) You're right - I don't think other family members will ever understand :(

Thank you Julia. 'They' may say that, but does it have to be a whole week ? ! ;-)

Rick said...

Ha ha - thank goodness not, Leslie - I might not have noticed it ;-) Thank you !

Thanks Ioan, and greetings to you too !

Merci, Marty ! Indeed the sunset was merveilleux but the bugs were très mal ! It would be très difficile pour tu to sit and dream there. So I send you bisous doubles for a far away dream !

Ha ha Ron - ok, I took one for the team ! ;-)

S. Etole said...

It almost looks like an oil painting.

Soraia Brito said...

I love it!

Lisa Gordon said...

Oh my goodness, this is gorgeous!
Yup, it was worth it.
But then I wasn't the one that was eaten alive!!

BlueShell said...

Is everything ok???
Hope so...

Hugs...

Angela said...

Discovered your beautiful blog via Ann and St Nicholas of The Hazelnuts. Thank you for these fabulous photos

I really appreciate the way you show the glory of God's creation in your photographs [have you read Gerald Manley Hopkins poems- his words go well with your pictures]

You have certainly been 'bitten by the photography bug'!!

advent blessings xx

Betty Manousos said...

that is absolutely gorgeous shot!

nice lighting ans warm colours!

off to check out the link.

happy thursday!

Unknown said...

The way you processed your HDR is magical, Rick.

I love how the grayish and golden tones dissolve in the midst of your photo.

By the way, I am not neglecting your blogs, I am reading every now and then. I am just a little bit taken by the wind of purchasing a boy's toy :-D

Greetz,


Joseph

Christmas-etc... said...

Gorgeous!! But oh...7 days of itching... I get where your wife is coming from (especially if you fussed about it!:)) But... this photo... yes, this photo, now that the itching has passed... definitely worth it!
Ann

Rick said...

Thank you Susan (oh if I could paint like that !).

Obrigado, Soraia.

Thank you, Lisa ! LOL - the bites have healed and the only memory I have left is the photo (but I'll use better protection next time !).

Yes, thank you BShell - the bite marks are gone and I'm a little wiser (I think).

Hello Angela - thank you for your visit and your very kind words ! I had not heard of Gerald Manley Hopkins, but I have googled him and looked at a few of his poems (now bookmarked) - very interesting. I've been over to see you too - hope you'll be back here again. Happy Advent !

Hi Betty - thank you. Hope you don't get bitten by the bug ;-) Have a great weekend !

Hello Joseph ! Nice to hear from you, and thank you for your nice comment ! I fully understand where your priorities need to be right now ;-) Blogs will continue but there are some other more important matters at hand ! Have a great weekend, ripping through corners ;-)

Thank you, Ann (the itch is gone - phew - and I rarely fussed - I just applied more Benedryl ;-) And I still agree - it was worth the aggravation. Have a great weekend !

Here I Am Carrie said...

Of course it is well worth it. I love the green framing on this goes so well with the gold sunset. I too often miss the good ones down at the Salton Sea as I making dinner then. But one always looks for them as never know it could really be the big one. What nice also is each one really is different especially when taken from different locations. I know to well getting bit up. One time I was at this beautiful mountain meadow and had to hike out to it to get some photos. Well the mosquitoes were so bad. But I would hole the shots while they were biting me. Glad to hear you have recovered from your biting episode.

Teté M. Jorge said...

All worth it when the desire exists.
That's so beautiful, honey... no, no... wonderful! Marvelous!!!!
Lots of sweet beijos.
Saudade...

Rick said...

Yes, the things we do to get a shot, Carrie (my wife thinks it borders on insanity ;-) It takes real concentration to frame the shot while the little buggers are ripping out bits of flesh !

Hello teca - thank you for your loyal visits and always encouraging words ! I hope your warm spring is turning into a beautiful summer now. Beijos my friend and wishes for a wonderful weekend !