Sunrise Sunset – U.S. Pictures – Bill Swartwout Photography

September 26, 2023

Sunrise over Escanaba Harbor

A spectacular start to a day on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

As the first rays of sunlight kiss the shores of Escanaba Harbor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colors paints the sky. The tranquil waters mirror the vibrant hues, creating an ethereal play of light and shadow. In this serene moment, Mother Nature gifts us with her awe-inspiring spectacle.

The stillness of the harbor is broken only by the gentle lapping of waves against the dock and the occasional cry of a seagull soaring above. As dawn breaks, fishermen prepare their boats, ready to embark on a day filled with hopeful anticipation. The air is crisp and invigorating, carrying with it whispers of new beginnings and endless possibilities.

With each passing moment, as hues deepen from soft pastels to fiery oranges and pinks, one cannot help but feel a sense of gratitude for being present in this magical space. Time seems to stand still as nature puts on her grandest show just for us; we become acutely aware that these fleeting moments are meant to be cherished. As darkness gives way to light, witnessing sunrise at Escanaba Harbor becomes more than just witnessing a celestial event – it becomes an experience that touches our souls and reminds us of our connection to something greater than ourselves.

In this captivating dance between land and sea, where sky meets water in perfect harmony, we find solace in knowing that nature’s beauty will continue to unfold before our very eyes each day. Escanaba Harbor serves not only as a picturesque backdrop but also as wonderful display for your home.

Prints are available at: My Pictorem Gallery

October 16, 2022

Lake Michigan Sunset

The wind, waves and broken clouds add excitement to this evening scene at Grand Beach, MI.

The beauty of a sunset:

As the sun sets over Lake Michigan, the water turns a beautiful shades of orange and pink. The sky is a stunning purple color as the waves march to the shore. It’s a peaceful and calming sight to see.

Lake Michigan Sunset at Grand Beach, New Buffalo

The colors of a sunset:

This Sunset over Lake Michigan was one of the most beautiful sights of our recent road trip to Michigan. The colors are so vivid and the sky is so clear. A sunset over “the lake” a must see for anyone who loves nature.

The peace of a sunset:

As the sun sets over Lake Michigan, the sky is ablaze with colors of orange, yellow and pink. The cool breeze blowing off the lake is a refreshing contrast to the warm summer temperatures. This is a perfect time to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Whether you are watching the sunset from the shoreline or out on a boat, it is an experience you will never forget.

The conclusion:

The sun slowly sinks behind the horizon, casting a beautiful orange hue over the waters of Lake Michigan. It’s a perfect evening for a stroll along the beach, or perhaps a romantic dinner overlooking the water. As the last rays of sunlight disappear, you can’t help but feel a sense of peace and wonder at the natural beauty of this place.

Purchase:

Prints are available: CLICK HERE

January 21, 2022

Sun Setting in the Trees of Assawoman Bay

Every sunset is different even if you view them from the exact same location.

The setting sun disappears into the trees at the western edge of Assawoman Bay at The Point of the Live Bayside Community. This golden sunset is in southern Delaware to the west of Ocean City, Maryland, and Fenwick Island, Delaware.

As the sun sets, atmospheric factors begin to play a much larger role in determining what features of the sunset we can see. Where we are in relationship to the horizon will greatly affect how much of the sun will be visible above the horizon. The same can be said for atmospheric conditions. If a sunset has a lot of clouds and haze, less of the sun will be visible. If it’s perfectly clear, this will allow more of the sun to shine through and illuminate additional parts of the sky. In essence, all sunsets are different because every atmospheric condition is different, but there are certain tendencies which we can observe as consistent patterns.

A black and white presentation of a gorgeous orange-sky sunset may lack the color but the monochrome emphasized the shading a detail of the trees. B&W also “works” in a more modern decor environment and even in a business office.

Sun Setting in Trees of Assawoman Bay Monochrome

Click the links for more information and to browse or shop the variety of wall art and decor items available.

Link: Sun Setting in Trees

Link: Sun Setting in Trees in Black and White

Link to: Bill’s Fine Art America Gallery

Link to: Bill’s Pictorem Ocean City Gallery (w/ Free Shipping)

I have been to this exact location on several different occasions over the years and I have never seen a sunset from this vantage point that can quite match this one.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that so many sunsets can look so different. But if you’ve ever watched one in the same spot over several days, you get to see all of the different ways the sun can set on a warm summer evening or at the end of a frigid wintry day. This golden sunset is in southern Delaware to the west of Ocean City, Maryland, and Fenwick Island, Delaware.

This is probably my favorite sunset. It couldn’t have been any more perfect. The sun prints the water perfectly while the clouds are there to add some drama to the sky. This shot reminds me of being on vacation and seeing these gorgeous sunsets day after day. I hope you enjoyed this beautiful example of one of nature’s splendor!

January 18, 2022

Sunrise Over Fenwick Island, DE

While the silhouetted trees may look like the Serengeti, it really is coastal Delaware.

Of course, we do not find lighthouses in the desert, but here we do see the Fenwick Island Lighthouse in silhouette – just to the right of the rising sun. Some photographers will add a “flying shore bird or two” into scenes like this. But not here, that seagull is doing a photobomb on his own volition, without realizing the importance of his appearance.

A sunrise is suppose to be full of vivid color, right? Well, not always. Often, a black and white presentation helps to define textures and outlines. Monochrome images are also useful in modern home decor and/or in an office setting. This landscape seems to work well in both color and B&W. What do YOU think. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments area at the bottom of the page.

Sunrise Over Fnwick Island DE in Black and White

Click these links now for more information, see larger images and to browse or purchase.

Link: Sunrise over Fenwick Island

Link: Sunrise over Fenwick Island in Black and White

Link to: Bill’s Fenwick Island Collection at Fine Art America

Link to: Bill’s Fenwick Island Collection at Pictorem (w/ Free Shipping)

Sunrise over Fenwick Island by Bill Swartwout. This photograph depicts the sun rising above the Atlantic Ocean and above the town of Fenwick Island, Delaware. This is one of a kind photograph is available digitally printed in vivid color or black and white on archival fine art paper or museum-quality canvas.

January 10, 2022

Frozen Waters and Chesapeake Bay Bridge Reflections

From a cold January cruise underneath the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Another of my older photographs dates back to January 31, 2014 and a winter cruise to warm Caribbean islands and sunshine. The frozen waters beneath the Chesapeake Bay Bridge reflect the waning light of the last sunset on the last day of January, 2014. We do not see an icy Chesapeake Bay like this very often and this particular combination of lighting and ice floes in the Bay may never be seen again.

Officially, the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge, this dual structure spans over four miles of the Chesapeake Bay connecting Maryland’s Western Shore to Kent Island and the Maryland Eastern Shore on the Delmarva Peninsula. Standing 186 feet high at the highest point, this bridge instills fear in the hearts of many drivers who cross it. However, most drivers and passengers simply revel in the beauty of this engineering marvel.

Chesapeeake Bay Bridge Sunset Reflections

The above are two slightly different views of this rare occurrence of seeing ice floes as far south as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The orange light of the setting sun adds to the dramatic impact of this scene and is likely something that will not be photographed again. Yes, it was cold on the top deck of the Grandeur of the Seas when I shot these photographs but certainly not as cold as being in the water.

Link to gallery at FAA/Pixels: Chesapeake Collection

Link to gallery at Pictorem: Chesapeake Bridges (Free Shipping)

January 9, 2022

Misty Island of Assawoman Bay Wall Art

One of earliest and best selling images from my galleries.

This is one of the first photographs I offered for sale in my original gallery at Fine Art America. It was also one of the first images that was purchased by an art buyer from Newark, Delaware in August of 2014. I has been purchased many times since and on a variety of substrates such as a framed print, on canvas, on acrylic or metal. It is now also available in my Pictorem “Ocean City” gallery.

The Misty Island of Assawoman Bay Photograph is, historically, a best-selling image.

The original caption reads: “Late afternoon fog enshrouds this island on the western edge of Assawoman Bay near Maryland’s Ocean City resort. This is just on the Maryland side of the Maryland/Delaware state line, just south of the community of Live Bayside near Fenwick Island, DE.”

Click one of these links to see it in a larger size and view the purchase options. It is also available as a black and white print.

Link at FAA/Pixels: Misty Island of Assawoman Bay

Link at Pictorem (Ocean City): Misty Island of Assawoman Bay

Link at FAA/Pixels: Misty Woman of Assawoman Bay in B&W

Link at Pictorem: Misty Woman of Assawoman Bay in B&W

January 4, 2022

Just Before Sunrise on Driftwood Beach

The darkest hour may be just before dawn but…

The colors of dawn, pre-sunrise, can be simply beautiful. Here is a dawn photograph of an iconic lone tree silhouetted against the brightening and colorful sky on Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Driftwood Beach is on the northern end of Jekyll Island, one of Georgia’s Golden Isles, and is a picturesque place featuring numerous driftwood trees and parts of trees. This “scene from another world” was created by years of erosion that caused trees of a marine forest to topple into the salt water of the Atlantic ocean and die. While it is a form of marine debris, or tidewrack, is can also be quite beautiful and even mysterious. The salinity of the ocean water tends to preserve the trees for many decades – if not longer.

Whenever we travel south – from Delaware to South Carolina, Georgia or Florida, we like to take a side trip to Jekyll Island. Any trip to Jekyll means a walk on the beach because it is a beautiful and wondrous place to be, morning, noon or night. Yes, we have done all three – from sunrise over the Atlantic to moonrise over the beach – and all times in between.

Link for prints: Bill’s Fine Art America Gallery

Link for prints – just at sunrise: Bill’s Pictorem Gallery (w/free shipping in the U.S.)

December 28, 2021

Photographing the Miami Skyline

This was posted on a popular forum for artists/photographers: “Where is a good spot to photograph the Miami Skyline?”

There were, as to be expected, several answers and suggestions. The first one was, “from a boat.” Well, of course, that struck home to me – because I did have the opportunity to shoot a Miami sunset from the deck of a cruise ship after we headed south from the Port Everglades Cruiseport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The sun was low in the sky as we glided past the Miami coastline and the cloud cover diffusing the sun gave meaning to the term “Golden Hour” for photographers.

South Florida Skyline Sunset Silhouette — South Florida Coast Sunset Silhouette

There are a few other choices, modifications if you will, for these South Florida sunset silhouette photographs. I have created various post-processing edits to give you a choice of overall tone or color. Use the link(s) below to see them all.

Link to Pictorem for prints (free shipping): Click Here.

Link to Fine Art America for prints: Click Here.

Some of the other answers from forum members at Fine Art America were to search Google with that exact question or to use Google maps to look for areas.

Note, please, that finished and delivered prints will not have a watermark. In addition, you get a 30-day satisfaction guarantee from both of the production companies.