Last week was a tough week for me. On Sunday, I finally got out of the house and decided I would try and photograph some birds. It seemed sitting around and feeling sorry for myself was counterproductive. The best way I know of getting myself out of a funk is to try and access the creative side of my brain. The obsessive-cumpulsive side of my brain is rarely any help in this regard. So off to find some birds I went.

I was standing in front of a saltwater pond at O Dark Thirty hoping that a flock of Hooded Mergansers would make their way from the back of the pond to where I was at the spillover along Long Island Sound. With the sun about to break the horizon, I knew if the Hooded Mergansers made it to me shortly, I would have some really nice images with awesome light. I have never been to this spot at sunrise so I was flying a little by the seat of my pants.

While observing the biology of the birds I was watching, something made me turn around, almost like a tap on the shoulder. I hadn’t given the scene behind me any attention because that was where the sun was going to rise, and as all photographers know, the best light at sunrise, usually comes from over your shoulder. 😉 But divine intervention made me look. When I turned, I witnessed one of the nicest, most peaceful sunrises I have witnessed in person.

For the next 15 minutes, I was mesmerized by the scene before me. As the sun rose, my disposition seemed to change and the weight I had been carrying on my shoulders all week was lifted. It was a truly amazing experience. After witnessing the sunrise along Long Island Sound, I jumped in my truck and drove to the back of the pond to make this image.

I have always been very fortunate. I have a wonderful family and a wonderful relationship with God. Whenever I have been challenged in my life, it seems God finds a way to send me profound messages.