There's something to be said about rising at zero-dark-thirty to capture a city or landscape during the Golden Hour, the first hour of light. The sights, the sounds, the very vibration of the environment during that time is therapeutic. I love being in a concrete jungle or on some exotic shore and anticipating sunrise and capturing first light. Its exhilarating to have the city or the beach to myself. For me, the early morning is invigorating.
Sounds of a city are hollow in the early morning hours. "Prehistoric garbage trucks" and I have the metropolis to ourselves.
While at a beach the sound of the surf as it crashes to shore is reminiscent of gentle applause for the coming day.
The goal for me is to be in place and ready to shoot just as the colors reach their Zenith. I love watching and recording the colors chase the darkness across the sky. The violets, the reds, the oranges, the yellows; they all push against the darkness and fill what was once a dark canvas with a spectacular work of artistry. And each day a new masterpiece is created.
In moments like those the click of my shutter somehow makes me high. There is a wonderful energy, a great sense of power in capturing images at that time. Most of my best images were captured during the golden hour.
After spending this sacred time capturing early morning images I revel in the accomplishment. A sense of satisfaction overtakes me as I watch the world buzz and come alive, and I am complete.
Reveille, reveille, reveille. Wake up, wake up, wake up.
Photography, cheaper than therapy.
