07/12/2004
Monumental Sunrise
I was able to take a lot of photos while I was in Provincetown, so over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some of them...as usual. Surrounded on three sides by water, the tip of Cape Cod is unique for the crisp, reflective quality of its sunlight, a fact that did not go unnoticed by painters like Edward Hopper, whose images of the areas in and around Ptown feel sculpted by it.
I shot this sequence of images from 4:54 to 5:16 am on the morning of July 3rd. This was the view from the house we rented, which had a distant eye on Ptown's distinctive landmark, the Pilgrim Monument, built in 1910 to commemorate the Pilgrim's first landing site. The monument is based on a tower in Siena, Italy, stands 252 tall, and is the largest granite structure in the United States.
I was amazed to see that the sun, below the horizon, was sending up a single brilliant shaft of light, which, as you can see, works its way from left to right behind the monument as the break of day elapses.
Addendum: I've been told that what I saw happens occasionally, and is called a "sun pillar" — see here for explanation. I still am left with the feeling of a religious experience after seeing the sun pillar shoot directly up from the monument — now that's phallic.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 3:01 AM EST by Andy in Massachusetts, Photography, Provincetown, towleroad, Travel | Permalink
Comments
Beautiful shots. Im so happy that you are back again to ride the TOWLEROAD =)
Welcome back. We all missed you!!!
Posted by: Gle | Jul 12, 2004 3:24:06 AM
Stunning. If only waking up to see such a sight was something other than horrific. Do you normally wake up to see the sunrise? You must teach me your secret.
Posted by: Kenny | Jul 12, 2004 5:58:08 AM
Wow. Really gorgeous photos.
Posted by: Jeff | Jul 12, 2004 9:50:07 AM
Kenny, the trick is not to go to bed. ;-)
Posted by: andy | Jul 12, 2004 10:53:49 AM
I have said it before and I will say it again; you have an amazing eye for photography. I appreciate your sharing and you must let us know when you get your first gallery showing. If for nothing else to see these pieces of work in larger form and to be able to praise you in person.
Posted by: Rick | Jul 12, 2004 11:54:22 AM
They have a 4:54 in the MORNING now? huh!
(gorgeous, and not the least big phallic)
It's loosely based on the "Torre di Mangia" in Sienna, which I spent half a day atop.
http://www.cabophoto.com/images/tosc05.jpg
Posted by: M@ | Jul 12, 2004 12:57:47 PM
The Dowager takes Ptown.
Posted by: corey | Jul 12, 2004 3:23:41 PM
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