Even though I arrived at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last Thursday morning as the electric gate was opening at 7 o’clock, I was a little too late to photograph the the sun rising over the water. However, I did manage to capture some shots of the early morning color through the trees.
It is always tough for me to take landscape-type shots, especially when there is not an obvious subject. In this case, I was content to capture the colors and the patterns in images that feel almost abstract to me.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Abstract indeed
These are stunning Mike!
Lovely captures Mike.
I think these are fine landscapes, Mike. The colors behind the stark tree silhouettes are lovely. The day awaits!
Beautiful images Mike! Enjoyed seeing them!
I really like scenes like this Mike. I’m glad the folks at Great River Park never heard (or can’t afford) automatic times gates. I was frequently arriving well before the posted opening time.
One of the parks that I used to frequent more often (and now has become too popular) has posted times of dawn to dusk, which is liberal enough to be subject to interpretation. The wildlife refuge I go to most often is a former military base and is now federally administered–maybe that has something to do with the more controlled access.