I don’t often photograph sunrises and sunsets. I’ve got file folders full of color slides from my early years of photography, many of which are trees, grain bins, and other objects silhouetted against the purple or orange sky of sunrises and sunsets. They’re very nice, but I’m tired of them. These days, when the sky lights up with color, I’m usually trying to capture the reflection of that colorful light on prairie wildflowers, grasses, and insects.
Last week, however, while I was in the Nebraska Sandhills, I was climbing up a steep hill just before sunrise and noticed a band of haze along the horizon. Knowing that the sun would appear huge and red as it rose through that haze, I found a nice vantage point, got out my telephoto lens and waited. And then I photographed the sunrise. No silhouettes; just a simple celebration of a spectacular prairie landscape.
Sunrise over the Sandhillls. Cherry County, Nebraska.
I’m not sure there’s a better way to start a day.
The Prairie Ecologist 
What an awesome photo, worthy of looking at every morning! Thanks for sharing your photographic gift with the rest of usâº
MARY B. REECE
District Conservationist
USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service
1202 So Cottonwood, Suite 1
North Platte, NE 69101
Phone (308)534-2360
Fax 1-855-207-0383
Email: mary.reece@ne.usda.gov
The posts of the sandhills — awesome and heart touching. thanks for sharing
Thanks for that shot!
Chris – your photos and always something nice when I have a chance to get to the emails. Your voice is also appreciated.
Agree on the piles of pictures but your comment totally brings the joy of being able to watch the sun come up on a long summer day.
Hope you get to enjoy more of them!
Jordy
Harald (Jordy) Jordahl, Director
America’s Watershed Initiative
Mobile (608) 445 8543
http://www.americaswatershed.org/
From: The Prairie Ecologist
Reply-To: The Prairie Ecologist
Date: Friday, June 24, 2016 at 7:53 AM
To: Jordy Jordahl
Subject: [New post] Photo of the Week – June 24, 2016
Chris Helzer posted: “I don’t often photograph sunrises and sunsets. I’ve got file folders full of color slides from my early years of photography, many of which are trees, grain bins, and other objects silhouetted against the purple or orange sky of sunrises and sunsets. Th”
Reminds me of an old OP (Ocean Pacific) t-shirt even though it is it is far removed from the ocean. Very nice!
I never tire of sunrises and sunsets – and at least for now admission is free if you can find yourself in a good spot to see them! Illinois has those in abundance. I will echo what Kim said about the ocean – – sunrise over the inland sea of grass and sand . . .
Thanks as always Chris!!
Lovely!
It looks like another world.
Poetry my friend, it doesn’t get any better than that.
This is stunning Chris!!!!!
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