I took this photograph in the Fall of 2003, while on a trip in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  The Copper Harbor Lighthouse is depicted here.  The functioning light tower was constructed in 1933.  To the east, you can see the lighthouse of 1866.  A prior tower from 1848 is no longer present.  

This photo was taken around 5:30 a.m., as the sun was beginning to rise.  In addition to the subtle color of the sunrise, I also wanted to capture the light glistening off the harbor.  At that time of the morning, the subtle colors of the dawn were nowhere near as strong as they appear here.  You're looking at the culmination of a eight seconds of light reaching the camera.  This also allowed me to capture the light's reflection on the water -- something that would have been impossible just a few minutes later in the day.

I experimented with numerous compositions that morning.  I arrived early for this reason.  I spent a considerable amount of time walking the shoreline, and looking through the different lenses I had brought.  I then shot about 100 frames, working to capture the optimal light of the sunrise and timing of the light just right.  Some of those exposures were also used to get the tides just right -- allowing the light to reflect uninterrupted all the way to the shoreline. 

The eight-second exposure made a tripod and cable release essential.  The winds were also starting to blow in, which made me glad that I had opted for a heavy tripod on the trip.

The image has had very limited post-processing.  I adjusted levels slightly to deepen the black along the shoreline silhouette.  I experimented with adjustments in the sky, but opted to maintain the integrity of the original image. 

This is one of the first images in which I have applied a frame in Photoshop.  I am very happy with the results.  I am beginning to appreciate how integral matting and framing are to presenting a photograph as art.