Attempted Sunrise by graemestevens

Attempted Sunrise

Dear constant viewer, here is the story (isn't there always) that goes with this shot:
I was on my way to work this morning, just before 8am when I spied this “attempted sunrise”. There is a public park not far from where I was called Churchill Heights which I thought would make the perfect location to get this shot from – as the name of the park would suggest it is on a hill that overlooks the city, along the coastline to North Taranaki. At the top of the hill is a large stone marker with the distances to other national and international cities engraved on it, and this is right next to the car park. When I was courting my lovely wife we would often go to Churchill Heights for pizza and a moonlit snog, but when I drove up there this morning, in broad daylight, to a public park, there were 4 middle aged “gentlemen” sitting on the stone marker in a frenzy, wildly fumbling with each other’s zippers – I can only assume that a large and lethal variety of spider had scuttled up one of their trouser legs and the remaining three, being caring citizens, were attempting to rescue him from impending pain and ensuing embarrassment.
As a result of this I decided that it was in my best interests to race across town to another potential site, Marsland Hill in the hope that I could get there before the light had changed completely – by the time I got through the traffic and intersections between the two parks it had changed substantially and this is the best I could capture, which I blame completely on either base animal behaviour or lethal spiders. I remain undecided.
I’m a very open minded individual and a great believer in “each to their own”, but my idea of romance is not a quick fumble in a car park just after breakfast. Just as well it was a near fatal spider attack or there would be no excusing it.
Oh my gosh..far to early morning for that .. great shot of the sunrise..
June 17th, 2014  
@julzmaioro Thanks very much, and yes, you'd think all the spiders would still be asleep!
June 17th, 2014  
Wonderfully captured.
June 17th, 2014  
Beautiful sunrise!! Funny story. :>)
June 17th, 2014  
@spanner Thanks very much
@cailts Thanks, and thanks - every word the truth unfortunately!
June 17th, 2014  
You may have been late capturing it Graeme, but it's still a great sunrise pic. As to "The Park Incident" - you must have breathed a sigh of relief that you were not wearing your Spandex... or perhaps you were ;-)
June 17th, 2014  
Oh.....my........that had best have been one massive spider........lovely shot by the way (and I am still just shaking my head, laughing).......
June 17th, 2014  
@vignouse Thanks very much - no spandex today, just an anatomically correct latex body suit.
@deak68 Thanks very much...I was giggling inanely all the way across town...
June 17th, 2014  
hahaha, awesome story!! and beautiful picture!!
June 17th, 2014  
@firefly8642 Thanks very much indeed!
June 17th, 2014  
Awesome story!! and the sunrise still not bad.
June 17th, 2014  
@rustymonkey Thanks very much - I just hope they got that pesky spider
June 17th, 2014  
Beautiful shot! Obviously they agreed that it was a good place for a snog of sorts lol ...oh and to kill spiders!
June 17th, 2014  
Wow, what a saga all for sunrise, which I might add is pretty damn good. Gee my life pails into insignificance as I only have to walk out the front gate to get an uninterrupted view of the sun rising over the mountains :-)
June 17th, 2014  
@creativefool Thanks very much - I hope they got them all!
@hermann Thanks very much - oh to have such a horribly view, it must be so hard for you ;)
June 17th, 2014  
stunning and dramatic composition
June 17th, 2014  
Nice result give the circumstances. Whenever I get up early to catch a sunrise, it is a cloudy one most of the time.

I'm glad to know it is all about spiders! If I ever see that sort of thing I shall know to keep well away, as I hate spiders! :)
June 17th, 2014  
Kim
I'm beginning to worry about you dear husband, you find them everywhere! Great shot though
June 17th, 2014  
That's why I don't live in that region of the world. I hate spiders, especially the deadly kind. Great "late" sunrise. This photo is nicely composed.
June 17th, 2014  
Great shot!
June 17th, 2014  
Perfect sunrise..Marsland HIll much better view
June 17th, 2014  
I love your tales of 'how it happened' Graeme, you make me chuckle. Love the shot too.
June 17th, 2014  
Haha! Love the story, all that driving around in the name of a photo, perfect! The only time I see sunrises is when I am still awake, and then I am too tired to go out and about! Gorgeous shot.
June 17th, 2014  
@traceyhatcher Thanks very much
@tomtom I hate them too, and thanks
@kimkyra You and me both wife of mine, there seems to be an awful lot of it in this little town
@eyeamlisa Thanks very much, we don't have big bog spider in NZ, just little fellas
@johenn Thanks very much
@livvy Thanks - it will have to be!!!
@golftragic Thanks very much, appreciated :)
@jess1204 Thanks very much - how we suffer for our art!
June 17th, 2014  
ahhh, beautiful!
June 17th, 2014  
Beautiful sunrise....I love the clouds! That's all I am going to say.
June 17th, 2014  
@cindyloo Thanks very much
@harbie Thank you - it's about all I had to say as well!
June 17th, 2014  
How we suffer for our art! It is a cracking sunrise shot I hope you are not too traumatised by the events of the day.
June 17th, 2014  
Gorgeous!
June 17th, 2014  
LOL.awesome almost sunrise and fabulous story ,curious behavior. :) Don't be blaming spiders! Oh and is a snog like a kiss or something?
June 17th, 2014  
hahaha!!! yes! how funny! you wont forget that in a while!

the picture is stunning too!
June 17th, 2014  
@chippy1402 thanks very much - I'm bearing up under the strain
@redy4et thanks very much
@mzzhope thanks very much - bizarre happenings in sleepy hollow! And yes, a song is a prolonged kiss with steamy windows
@andrewkru No. I won't. And thanks very much.
June 17th, 2014  
The lengths photography takes us too.... The things we stumble across in the pursuit of it.... Great shot.
June 17th, 2014  
Oh my my. Will have to remember this as a possible scenario in my role with law enforcement. 😳
June 17th, 2014  
@newbank Thanks very much - it was the bizarre beginning of a bizarre day
@andreajoy Just be careful what you put the cuffs on!
June 17th, 2014  
Sam
I'm very disappointed that you didn't call the Anti Spider brigade to assist these gents. Sounds like they may have needed another hand :)
June 17th, 2014  
Lovely lighting despite the delay!
June 17th, 2014  
Hahaha I love that story it actually made me laugh and I had to tell everyone in the room! Nice shot though
June 17th, 2014  
@gigiflower I think they might have been managing just fine ;)
@wearing0 thanks very much
@denisefuller thanks, much appreciated
June 17th, 2014  
Your live is so interesting Graeme. So many adventures in your journey to great images
June 17th, 2014  
Haha, you are truly a gentlemen, I would cranked up my ISO and shot them upside down.
June 17th, 2014  
Beautiful sunrise. Loving the story
June 17th, 2014  
@ceilidh Thanks - it's not every day that the unusual happens to me though!
@yaorenliu LOL, I think they were working up to the upside down bit without my help!
@rachelwithey Thanks twice :)
June 18th, 2014  
Haha lucky you did notice the.... ah gentlemen before you got your camera out and started shooting away! Lovely sunrise
June 18th, 2014  
@tracelee Indeed, could have been more than embarrassing for all concerned...and thanks
June 18th, 2014  
I love the long angle of the shot and the glow at the very bottom, very nicely taken :)
June 19th, 2014  
@shawnasays thank you very much
June 19th, 2014  
I agree... to each his (or her) own... but I much prefer the 'spider angle'... and I'm a huge fan of your sense of humor! Oh... and your photos are nice too :)
June 24th, 2014  
@lisatown thanks very much, much appreciated. I'll try and keep it serious from now on.
June 24th, 2014  
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