Sunrise: Why It's Worth Waking Up For

No matter where you are in the world, rise early to see the sunrise!

I can't overstate the rewarding views and photographs you can capture at this time of day. I love the colors you get at sunrise. Sunrise and sunset are not the same, colors at sunrise are softer, more pink than orange. The views are never disappointing. If you're like me, you will love the sky and the scenery. If you tend to the urban photography, there is a beauty to the quiet, empty streets and activities that take place at that early morning hour.

These are some of my favorite sunrises (so far)

San Francisco Bay Bridge

Try to bring a good camera with you everywhere, even on business travel. I do not recall what meeting or conference brought me to downtown San Francisco in October 2017. Nor do I remember if sunrise was particularly late, or if my jetlag was particularly bad, or some of both. I do recall walking down the street in the early morning, passing a garbage truck and some homeless folks aiming for the San Francisco bay. I don't need this picture to remind me of the jaw-dropping lavender sky. But, it's nice to have this picture all the same.

Sunrise at San Francisco Bay Bridge with shades of lavender and orange

Sermilik Fjord, Greenland

Sermilik Fjord deserves, and will soon get, a blog post to itself. It's beauty evoked a deep emotional response. I had the fortune to spend three days and two nights on Sermilik Fjord and it was hard to leave. Because of potential polar bear encounters in this area, we were required to take polar bear watches through the night. On a polar bear watch, you have to stay awake and hope that a polar bear doesn't show up. If a polar bear shows up you hope that you can wake up your guide and that she can scare the polar bear away with her rifle. The days were long and nights short in this arctic location, and I wanted to catch the sunrise, so I elected to take the 2am shift. The rest of the group were quite happy to let me have it.

Pink sunrise over granite cliffs and icebergs at Sermilik Fjord in Greenland

December in Stokksnes, Iceland

In Iceland, during December, the sun rises at 10 am and sets at 4 pm. The sunrise and sunset blend into one another, creating a continuous orange sky. This is another aspect of Iceland's abundant natural beauty. Although facing the jagged face and spikey peaks of Stokksnes, it is the simplicity of this scene with it's unexpected focal point that that I appreciate most from my morning photo shoot..

Sunrise at Stokksnes, Iceland, endless sky punctuated by a lone human

Dayglow on the House of Justice, Tbilisi, Georgia

I didn't travel to Georgia to spend time in Tbilisi, which in 2018 seemed like a city frozen in the 70s. I think my routine of rising early and taking a sunset walk was cemented on this trip, largely because of this photo, which I regard as one of my finest. I headed towards the river without knowing what to expect. As the sun rose, this building and its reflection in the water began to glow. This glow lasted for five minutes. Remember the importance of being at the right place at the right time, and don't delay taking the picture. Capture the moment immediately.

Sunrise over House of Justice, Tbilisi, Georgia, a study in glow and reflection

Reflections, no pun intended

Like many computer scientists, I was once a night owl. I would stay in bed until 10 am if I could, and sunrise was not part of my vocabulary. Over time, my habits shifted. While I don't want to place all the blame on the kids, they certainly played a significant role in this change. Now, I see sunrise as the best part of the day. I enjoy the light, the tranquility, and I find that people you encounter at sunrise tend to be friendlier. In summary, I strongly recommend this time of day, particularly if you have a camera.