Drema Swader
July 2026 - Morning at the Bahá'í Temple
About the Image(s)
I made a second trip down to the Bahá'í Temple north of Chicago again this month. I had to get up at 4:00 AM to make the hour-long drive to catch the rising sun. Morning comes early in Wisconsin in June, and I still didn't get there before sunrise. But I did catch the early-morning sun as it came up over Lake Michigan. Enjoying the calm, cool air and the quiet of the early morning was definitely worth it!
While I like the late-day blue water from last month's picture, I think I did a better job with the composition this month.
7 comments posted
Hello Drema. I think this is a beautiful image, I love the lighting, so nice and soft. IMO you have handled the composition very well, I like the bit of light coming through the dome. The sky is gorgeous and way you have framed the image with the sun and the rays on the water really sets off the composition. Posted: 07/02/2026 13:34:16
Thank you very much, Lou. This image did get a lot of positive feedback when I posted it on Facebook.
As far as the light coming through the dome, I did take a couple of shots with the starburst there, but it just blew out the shape at the top, and looked like I was trying to make a religious picture. It didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.
I think the moral to the story is, don't be afraid to shoot the same location over and over again, hoping to get it right! Posted: 07/02/2026 17:17:32
As far as the light coming through the dome, I did take a couple of shots with the starburst there, but it just blew out the shape at the top, and looked like I was trying to make a religious picture. It didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.
I think the moral to the story is, don't be afraid to shoot the same location over and over again, hoping to get it right! Posted: 07/02/2026 17:17:32
I just spent a few nights in Evanston, but didn't make it to this spot.
What can I say -- a lovely image! Composition and light just perfect.
Obviously no one shot down your drone.
P.S. I showed this to my wife and she approved :-) Posted: 07/03/2026 19:55:38
What can I say -- a lovely image! Composition and light just perfect.
Obviously no one shot down your drone.
P.S. I showed this to my wife and she approved :-) Posted: 07/03/2026 19:55:38
Oh, you should have let me know. Perhaps we could have met up!
Thank you! Your suggestion last month about needing more on the right helped! I kept that in mind when I was lining up shots! And thank your wife for me! :)
Nope, no one shot it down this time! LOL Posted: 07/04/2026 21:27:58
Thank you! Your suggestion last month about needing more on the right helped! I kept that in mind when I was lining up shots! And thank your wife for me! :)
Nope, no one shot it down this time! LOL Posted: 07/04/2026 21:27:58
Hello Drema, I definitely agree with you, if you have the opportunity to re-shoot the same location more than once, then do it if you see the potential for a better image. And this image proves the point comparing to the last month. I might try lightening the facade of the building ever so slightly. Posted: 07/14/2026 21:29:44
Thank you, Richard. You are the second person to mention lightening up the temple. A judge in a competition last weekend gave it just an "average" rating, and she said that the temple was too dark and needed to be lightened up.
I felt that because the sun was shining behind the temple, this side would be darker, and if I lightened it too much, it would look fake. But since I've heard it from two people now, I decided to try it. Here is my attempt. I increased the orangy saturation a bit to warm it up, and I increased the highlights a bit. I tried to be subtle, but I'm not sure how much difference it makes.
Posted: 07/15/2026 23:47:05
I felt that because the sun was shining behind the temple, this side would be darker, and if I lightened it too much, it would look fake. But since I've heard it from two people now, I decided to try it. Here is my attempt. I increased the orangy saturation a bit to warm it up, and I increased the highlights a bit. I tried to be subtle, but I'm not sure how much difference it makes.
Posted: 07/15/2026 23:47:05
I like it- just enough but not so much that you lose the sun highlighting the base on either side. Posted: 07/16/2026 00:07:07