WPC: The temporary orange of sunrise in Maine

09Nov
by Oh, the Places We See
First glow of sunrise at Castine harbor with deep orange colors and a hint of fog.

First glow of sunrise at Castine harbor with deep orange colors and a hint of fog.

Our stay in Castine, Maine afforded us a scant view of the harbor if we stood on tiptoe in the upstairs bedroom and peered out the window. But even that was enough to alert us to the mood of the morning.  If we could see the harbor bathed in orange light, we worked quickly, throwing on jeans and fleeces to hurry down to the waterfront.  After all, the show wouldn’t wait for us.

All sunrise watchers know the temporary nature of the event.  And that holds in Castine as well as at the beach, in the mountains, or in a neighborhood.  It just doesn’t last long.  Or at least not long enough.

From dark orange to lighter yellow-orange, the temporary nature of sunrises creates a show of its own.

From dark orange to lighter yellow-orange, the temporary nature of sunrises creates a show of its own.

The first deep orange glow seemingly turns pale in an instant.  But what you watch for is the sequence of orange gradations moving from dark to light one shade at a time. Boats change colors.  Birds lighten up.  And you find yourself scanning the landscape to take it all in.

A boat is silhouetted by the orange-turned-pink sunrise in Castine, Maine.

A boat is silhouetted by the orange-turned-pink sunrise in Castine, Maine.

In about half an hour, the warm reddish orange glow of sunrise in Castine turns to tangerine and then to melon before the sun’s golden rays peek over the horizon.  And the water, awash in oranges and roses and yellows, finally turns to blue as boats get on with the business of the day.

Facing the day, awash in morning light: the Maine Maritime Academy teaching boat in Castine harbor

Facing the day, awash in morning light: the Maine Maritime Academy teaching boat in Castine harbor

There’s nothing to do when it’s over except hope for a repeat performance the next day.  It’s all so temporary!

For more temporary scenes, go to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Temporary.  

31 thoughts on “WPC: The temporary orange of sunrise in Maine”

  1. Toonsarah

    Lovely sunrise photos! I think somehow a sunrise is more special than a sunset – perhaps because relatively few people are around early enough or take the time to appreciate it?

    Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      Thanks so much for nominating me for this award. I accepted it a couple of years ago, but then decided that I would like to have an award-free blog. The joy of having you like my post or comment is award enough, and you are definitely appreciated.

      Reply

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  5. krithya G

    Lovely pictures. I love how amidst the sun rising, the birds flying, the boats sailing, the sky changing, the fog silently disappears, almost unnoticed. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      I wish I had taken more videos with sound, because the gulls and other birds made for an exciting time each morning. It really was quite the show to start our day. Thanks for stopping to take a look and make a comment.

      Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      Thanks for letting me know about your Instagram account. I’m loving that social media. It’s easy to post something each day because I don’t have to write a blog about it. So, yes, it’s fun to do. Plus, I get to see where everyone is going and what they’re doing in an instant. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

      Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      It really is a beautiful orange — and one that didn’t last long at all. Mostly I could see the orange first, then pink, then bright sun. All gone in about half an hour. But, oh, what a way to start the day!!!

      Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      Thanks so much, Dawn, for your comment. We loved how the morning light bathed even the dirtiest old boats with a fresh new look each day. I know now that I could definitely get used to living on a harbor in Maine. Sigh.

      Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      Thanks for taking a look at my harbor sunrises. We loved this teaching boat. It left a few mornings each week with students on it. We were able to sail on The Bowdoin, a two-masted schooner also used for teaching. And that was a big thrill to this Tennessee girl!

      Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      Most places we visited in Maine were gorgeous — from the well-known to the little-known towns and harbors. We tried to get out each day and just drive, sometimes with a destination, sometimes not. You’re fortunate to see the beauty every day.

      Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      Thanks so much for looking at our pictures. We love to relive a trip by going through all of them, and I must admit I do take too many. But sometimes it’s fun to snap away, even though it means hours of culling later! Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply

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