The Secret Story Behind my Instagram Sunrise Shot

Well, first off it’s really not much of a secret and also not a particularly spectacular shot.  At all.  I simply took a photo and shared it with a friend.  He asked me if I planned this shot or just  happened upon it.  I had a little laugh thinking of myself lying in wait for the sun to pop itself into the perfect placement I had designed for it.  Here’s how I got this shot in all honesty.

6:00am - 

I woke up late.  I don’t set an alarm. I never know exactly when I’ll open my eyes, but it is usually earlier.  I know I should get up and get going if I plan to see the sunrise. It takes five minutes to drive there and another twenty to run to the east end of the island. Sunrise is at 6:44am.

6:35am - 

I finally leave my house knowing that I am going to miss the sunrise.  C’est la vie.  Heading over the bridge crossing the Intracoastal Waterway that runs between the island and the mainland, I see the golden orange and brilliant pink shades of the sun’s opening act beginning to spread across the horizon.   I decide that I might still be able to catch it if I head to the waterway side instead of the beach. I know of a public kayak launch that might be perfect.  I’m intent on capturing temporal beauty.  Hopefully I’ll see another sunrise, though nothing is guaranteed.  One thing is for sure: There will never be another sunrise just like this one today.

6:45am 

I’ve parked my car and am jogging to the kayak launch.  Maybe the sun will be late today (haha). In minutes I arrive at the end of the concrete ramp on the Intracoastal right after the sun peeks over the horizon like a bright orange flame.  I almost slip in the slick mud on the kayak ramp and fall on my keister trying to get to a good vantage point.  There’s only one problem: There’s a big boat on a lift blocking the shot.  That’s okay.  I’m going to run down the street to  another spot I know about.  Run, run, run.

6:51am

I take this shot on the street.  It’s blurry because I am running.  I’m trying to capture a group of five deer casually sauntering down the road in front of me. They are in no hurry.  I slow to a walking pace so as not to scare them.  Then I start taking videos and more pictures of the deer.  Time is ‘a wastin’.  

6:53am

I arrive at another launch area on the Intracoastal at the end of a residential street and carefully walk out to check the view.  I only have moments before the sun becomes an unimpressive, glaring white blob in the sky. 

I see the sun framed by the posts at the end of a boat dock with lovely grasses in the foreground. Snap! I take the shot, and end up with something pretty that can’t begin to capture the whole story of the chase.  

I was ten minutes late and the setting is not ideal, but I’m glad I got to witness another sunrise.  I cherish each one. My answer to my friend who asked about the image: I didn’t plan it, but I chased the temporal beauty of the moment with tenacity.  And here it is...

6:54am

Sunrise on the Intracoastal Waterway at Holden Beach.

Thanks for reading,

Arianne

If you enjoyed this post, consider purchasing my books, Solo Car Camping Across America, An Adventure in Courage, Solitude, and Questionable Bathrooms in America’s Most Beautiful Places, available on Amazon Books.  235 pages with full color images. Itinerary, packing list, helpful tips, and do’s and don’ts included.  Free shipping for Amazon Prime members.  Kindle edition also available. 
 

 Approaching the Blank Canvas, Real Talk on Fear, Inspiration and Not Giving Up in Art and Life. It’s full of true tales and tips from my 20+ years of making art for a living. It’s available on Amazon Books and you can also find the link to it and my other books on my DesignsbyArianne website.