Grand Canyon Sunrise

Sunrise in the Grand Canyon National Park at Yavapai Point. Photo sequence shot between 5:10 a.m. and 5:57 a.m. on Aug. 18, 2009. There was a smoke cloud coming from forest fire in Central Arizona on the eastern horizon at sunrise.

Images shot with Nikon D200 using the AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm 3.5-4.5G ED DX lens. Camera was on a tripod.

Music is the Grand Canyon Suite first movement (Sunrise). Music depicts a sunrise with the early morning sounds of birds. The rhythm depicts the passing of the seconds before a Grand Canyon sunrise. The musical sun rises with a crescendo of cymbals and timpani.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Grand Canyon
• Arizona
• Sunrise
• Yavapai Point

[TheFRiNgEguitars]

This is a great work to this famous tone poem. I must say I am sorry the end video sequence was off topic, and diappointing.. I was waiting for the full sphere of the sun to appear in all its glory. This is what the music is painting.. sorry.. if there's any way this could be edited so the ending is what it should be. Sorry this isn't my opinion but this is what Grofe was expressing in the music. This is expressionism at its finest, not an interpretation! ... so disappointing (the ending only)

[sandijay4]

@TheFRiNgEguitars Hi! I agree. When I put the video together I wanted the ending of the video to be exactly the moment that the sun rose above the horizon. That's what the music depicts. You are correct. However, when I shoot directly into the sun with my Nikon D200, I have two choices. If I properly expose the sun, the surrounding canyon is darken out. If I expose for the canyon, the camera captures a washed out sun. Also I was concerned about damaging he camera's sensor.

[sandijay4]

@TheFRiNgEguitars You are the only one who picked up on that fault. I knew the images don't exactly show what the music depicts. Thanks for your comment.

[sandijay4]

Thank you all for the kind comments. Watcing the sunrise is a thrill that I will never forget.

[omessemo]

Beautiful music with fantastic cinematography, wish you could issue another copy without the notes. They contribute nothing and are highly distracting.

[sandijay4]

@omessemo On your recommndation, I removed all but two of the annotations. Thanks for the comment.

[landrysg]

Wow! That is an awesome sunrise! My first view of the Grand Canyon was a sunrise from Mather Point in Dec 2000. Your video reminded me how beautiful sunrises over the canyon can be. Great video! BTW, my son and I hiked the canyon in Nov 2009, and I used Grofe's "Sunrise" for my video, too; it really does seem to fit the views, doesn't it?

[jackpark7927]

You know what? This wonderful selection could be used for any sunrise anywhere on earth, like the far east tip of Maine or over Denali in Alaska. It certainly fits the GC, but I think it has a universal quality.

[ourDC888]

Beautiful! Thank you!

[bubblinbrownsugar616]

This might sound so cheesy, but I put this on full screen and literally forgot I was sitting at a computer watching it. This is absolutely spectacular and for someone like me who most likely won't be able to see the Canyon live, this is the next best thing.

[SallySatisfied]

I believe sunrise is timed to the sun popping over the ridge, as opposed to DAY arriving, which is what the music speaks to after that with all the kettle drums.

. I think the video guy got it right, and I've been listening to this piece off and on since 1976. Lucky me, the first time I saw the Grand Canyon, I flew to it and rim landed. OMG.

[mindmagic42]

Beautiful - both the music and the video!

[jlmusicfan57]

I wanted to add to the first comment that back in the summer of 1982 while on a bus tour of the Western USA we visited the Grand Canyon. It was spectacular. Still, I was not able to experience the sheer grandeur and spectacle of an early morning sunrise that you so beautifully captured and perfectly set to the 1st movement of this suite. I'm not going to be picky like as a few other immature comments that were posted. You did a SUPERB JOB! I want to commend and thank you for your efforts!!

[jlmusicfan57]

About an hour ago I heard this entire suite on a Classical FM station on the car radio and just had to seek out the composer to this beautiful work. Thanks for posting this truly breathtaking photos which captures the 1st movement to this suite perfectly!

[mcsas]

Nice work.