Of Sunrises and Happy Thoughts

[My beach stories... part 2]

I’ve photographed sunsets before especially in Chicago but I’ve never taken a picture of a sunrise.

I was at the beach at 5:30 in the morning, camped on a log which served as my makeshift tripod. I walked the whole stretch of the beach looking for a good angle of the mountains and finally settled on that log.

Sunsets are nice. It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling that today was a great day. The remaining sunlight creates unique shadows and the sun has changed into an orange ball on the horizon. I can look into it without shielding my eyes, take one deep breath and say “Truly, it was a good day.”

Sunrises are different. I know it’s a cliché but sunrises give me that “new beginning” feeling. All the pains and problems of yesterday are lost. It’s a fresh start and the day is already good and only up to me to mess up. I can look into it still without shielding my eyes, take one deep breath and say “This will be a good day.”.

I got caught staring at the sunrise for longer than I imagined. My camera was now just hanging around my neck - turned off and with the lens cap on, as I sat on that log – thinking, smiling, realizing so many things and appreciating life and what it has given me.

Staring at the sunrise – not a feeling like it. I took a few photos but used up most of my time staring. I’m a poet first, photographer second.