This December, it feels as though Christmas trees have been popping up everywhere along the coast, as if the entire shoreline coordinated preparing for the holidays. The cold had settled in deep which is great for keeping this early snow. The whole world feels quieter even with the added crunch crunch crunch of steps through the snow. My dog hasn't yet adhered to Daylight Savings Time, so she had me up super early. This time before 5, 3 hours before dawn. I pulled myself out of bed, greeted by her hippity hops, and bundled against the cold. Once I took care of her needs, I tried to take a little power nap before heading out for sunrise. The apps didn't predict any sunrise color aka clouds, so I endeavored to photograph one particular tree that had captured my attention with the crescent moon atop the tree's lit star.
To my surprise, I couldn't see the moon, and I wasn’t alone. Despite the early hour and the bitter temperatures, a small gathering of people had already found their way there, drawn by the same view.
As the sun edged closer to the horizon, the colors began to bloom. Soft blues gave way to warm pinks and fiery oranges, reflecting off the water and wrapping the tree in a glow that felt almost unreal. The line of clouds created rays in the sky. Cameras clicked, more people came, conversations sparked, and strangers became familiar faces in just a few moments.
By the time the sun finally broke free of the horizon, the tree stood radiant against the winter sea—a simple symbol of the season, made extraordinary by the morning and the people who shared it. I left with frozen fingers, a hundred photos of the same general subject, and the unexpected gift of a few new friends, all brought together by the quiet magic of a December sunrise on the coast.
A special someone I spoke to before I left told me a quick story of the tree. Seems we have a pair of secret elves who are responsible for building the fence and pretty lights. They love seeing all the folks come around and take photos. They do it for the love and the magic, not for the fame and prefer to move when no one's looking. So keep sharing! Even if its the "same photo" or "everyone has it." It's special because it's yours, and its yours because you took it.
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This December, it feels as though Christmas trees have been popping up everywhere along the coast, as if the entire shoreline coordinated preparing for the holidays. The cold had settled in deep which is great for keeping this early snow. The whole world feels quieter even with the added crunch crunch crunch of steps through the snow. My dog hasn't yet adhered to Daylight Savings Time, so she had me up super early. This time before 5, 3 hours before dawn. I pulled myself out of bed, greeted by her hippity hops, and bundled against the cold. Once I took care of her needs, I tried to take a little power nap before heading out for sunrise. The apps didn't predict any sunrise color aka clouds, so I endeavored to photograph one particular tree that had captured my attention with the crescent moon atop the tree's lit star.
To my surprise, I couldn't see the moon, and I wasn’t alone. Despite the early hour and the bitter temperatures, a small gathering of people had already found their way there, drawn by the same view.
As the sun edged closer to the horizon, the colors began to bloom. Soft blues gave way to warm pinks and fiery oranges, reflecting off the water and wrapping the tree in a glow that felt almost unreal. The line of clouds created rays in the sky. Cameras clicked, more people came, conversations sparked, and strangers became familiar faces in just a few moments.
By the time the sun finally broke free of the horizon, the tree stood radiant against the winter sea—a simple symbol of the season, made extraordinary by the morning and the people who shared it. I left with frozen fingers, a hundred photos of the same general subject, and the unexpected gift of a few new friends, all brought together by the quiet magic of a December sunrise on the coast.
A special someone I spoke to before I left told me a quick story of the tree. Seems we have a pair of secret elves who are responsible for building the fence and pretty lights. They love seeing all the folks come around and take photos. They do it for the love and the magic, not for the fame and prefer to move when no one's looking. So keep sharing! Even if its the "same photo" or "everyone has it." It's special because it's yours, and its yours because you took it.
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