I wake up at the first hint of dawn, and hold my breath as I open the porthole window shade. Will this be another amazing sunrise or a gray day with no hint of the yellow orb that can make the start of the day a mesmerizing event?
Ah, the forecasted clouds have held off enough that this might just be a good sunrise today. I grab my phone and a sweatshirt, slip my feet into my Crocs clogs, and open the door to cold weather and this blue-and-gold view through the trees that line the edge of my waterfront site.
It’s not going to be that great of a sunrise, I think to myself as I look at the bands of clouds to the east and then I head back inside. I look at the shots I took and quickly delete most of them – too much ground, crooked, not quite enough sky, and so on.
Not even five minutes have passed since that first photo. I look up from my screen just in time to see the sky explode into a panorama of deep red and vivid orange. I rush back outside, knowing it won’t last but a few minutes. And it doesn’t. It’s gone in about the time it takes me to shoot a half dozen images.
As the sun slides higher, but just before it disappears into the low clouds, the light changes again, and again I step outside my warm trailer to capture the moment. (Yes, I’m still in my pajamas because sunrise is such an ever-changing show that I didn’t have the time!)
As I turn around to climb back into the warm trailer, I see this view and take one last photo of my magical morning. The stillness of the water seems to mirror the stillness in my soul after such a beautiful start to the day.
I crawl back under the covers, chilled but happy to have seen another sunrise. I think of all the campers sleeping in and the light show they just missed. Me, I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don’t leave until you have captured its essence. (Minor White)
You are so deeply present. I appreciate the way you stop to appreciate that red-gold beauty, knowing it is fleeting.
Thank you, Wendy! I am trying to learn to slow down and listen, it’s a practice, not a goal, I guess 🙂
Red sky in the morning. . .
Annie, your early sunrise photos are spectacular!
I too,…if I get a glimpse of a glow between the trees, will grab our camera and race to the water’s edge to take photos of the sunrises. Getting soggy feet running through the early morning dew grass is worth it! And like yourself, I am always the only one doing this,….
Another early morning activity I enjoy doing after we we arrive at a new site, is when hearing the first bird chirps, I grab my cell phone and run out and then tap on my Merlin bird app (Thanks! to Karen P.) I start recording, which like an orchestra, the variety and volume of chirps builds up to a crescendo. While listening, to see all the species photos and names pop up on my sceen, is a magical start to my day,…
Glad to see Annie that you are enjoying being back on the road again,….Dale ❤️
Me too! When I’m at the lake in AL I do that too, run out multiple times, in my pjs when the light keeps changing. I love all your images but that last, peaceful, shot made me smile and let out a little sigh.