My Thoughts on Sunrise

In the 34 years that I have been alive, I have never been a morning person. I have tried on many different occasions to embrace that time, but I just can’t do it. So I wanted to spend a few minutes telling you my thoughts on sunrise as a night owl. And I can sum it up in three words.

Mornings are terrible.

I am way too irresponsible to go to bed at a time that would allow me to wake up early enough to enjoy the quiet moments of sunrise. I’m supposed to have a strict bedtime of 9 p.m., so I can get up early for the day job. But that strict bedtime is more of a joke. I can’t go to sleep that early no matter how tired I may be. And if my husband isn’t home to usher me into bed, I’ll stay up even later than I do when he’s home. My nighttime personality has zero regard for the 5 am alarm clock, that my morning personality has to deal with.

All of that being said though, I do enjoy watching the sun rise. Sunrise is way more peaceful than sunset it. Fewer people are out enjoying those early morning rays, and it’s nice to experience that peace while still being able to work. Sunrise seems more lazy (in a good way) than the frantic rush of sunset. Has anyone else noticed that too, or am I just nuts?

If I can be by myself with my cup of coffee and my camera outside in the quiet, working, then I actually enjoy the sunrise. It gives me a chance to wake up; which I do really need in order to be a functioning member of society. I feel like when I go out to photograph sunrise, I tend to get more done throughout the day. I’ll glance at the clock at say 9 a.m., and realize I’ve already accomplished several items on my to-do list.

In my neck of the woods, I’ve noticed that sunrises are more enjoyable to photograph. I tend to find the colors more vibrant, and the glow of the sun more pronounced than during sunset. That also has a lot to do with the fact that I haven’t found a photogenic sunset location nearby. I really should try and find a good spot so I can have a fair comparison. 

What about you? What are your thoughts on sunrise? Do you hate mornings as much as I do? Or do you enjoy waking up to face the day before everyone else? Do you have any tips for how to make mornings more enjoyable or am I fated to hate them forever?