A Most Beautiful Day

Good Morning Everybody,

I know I've been offline for the last few days but crossing the Atlantic will do that to you;~). After eight days at sea. The cruise, with the exception of bad weather the first few days, was soon forgotten as we sailed into the warmer waters of the Caribbean seas. 

Our first day of full and glorious sunshine was coupled with the calmest seas and most beautiful skies you could only imagine.  I spent a good deal of the day just photographing the changing seascape - it was an exciting visual experience many times throughout the day.

A Most Beautiful Day

Let me share a few of these beautiful views, from somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic, of November 10, 2013 with you.

Photo 1.  This image was captured the morning about 6:30 a.m. just after sunrise and shows how the day first presented itself to all the passengers aboard the Celebrity Eclipse.  The soft warm colors of the new day was an early promise of even better views to come. 

Photo 2.   A few hours later about 8:00 a.m. a glance at the horizon showed the calming seas with the first of many beautiful white clouds against the rich blue skies. After a pretty stormy first few days there was something about those very soft waves that carried the mode of the entire day.

Photos 3 & 4. By 11:00 a.m. the waves had settled into an even more gentle nature.  That coupled with the clouds breaking up into even smaller versions of their previous selves made for a hauntingly provocative view of the sea. Here are a few views of that late morning beauty.

Photo 5. Two and a half hours later about 1:30 p.m. the sky took on a completely different look.  The light was doing something different with how the rays hit the particles of moisture hanging in the air.  This is probably my favorite view of the day. 

The seas were so calm they mirrored the white clouds of the sky in a very unusual and almost eerie way. The almost monochromatic view was just as it appeared – no post production of any kind was done to this photograph. 

Looking out over the watery vista seemed to be a view into an almost surreal world of water and sky.  I, for one, was transfixed with its tranquility, beauty, and mystery.

Photos 6, 7, 8, & 9. The day continued with it’s constant visual surprises well into the early evening climaxing into a spectacular sunset that LaDawn and I would soon not be forget.  I bet most of the passengers,  equipped with any camera at hand we're shooting away.  The others just looked on in inspired amazement of the spectacular beauty ending one of the most visually exciting days any of us had ever experienced at sea.   Please enjoy the following series of sunset images which transpired over a very short 12 minute time span. 

5:41:17 p.m.

5:45:27 p.m.

5:45:39 p.m.

5:53:13 p.m.

The cinematic display of light and color was without equal most places in the world on November 10, 2013.  What a joy it was to be part of the pallet of colors, shapes, and form painted by the best artist of all.

Afterthoughts:

Cruising memories are mostly the result of fabulous on board entertainment, exciting shore excursions, good food, and making new friends.  But the unfolding of the day of November 10, 2013 from sun up to sundown was the best and most exciting visual feast for the eyes, heart, and soul many of us will never forget. These images capture a small part of that excitement but the real experience is etched in our hearts and souls for that day will not soon be forgotten.

David