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Abstract

</figcaption></figure><p id="679c">And then it began. Step by step the orange color moved up the clouds.</p><figure id="b8d2"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*favQinQIVt5t_Q26YNsMWA.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="67c1"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*1rYwEmewsb4lB45miz_QUA.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="a60b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*RmPmegkEf9jTqnldNMMAPQ.jpeg"><figcaption>Step by step… | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="165e">Until the entire sky was on fire.</p><figure id="9ec9"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*X37iItvXSkFSdBntLP7lFg.jpeg"><figcaption>An explosion of colors in the sky. | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="c0c0">I couldn't believe what I was seeing. What was unfolding in front of my eyes was too beautiful to be real.</p><p id="f6a6">I swapped between the cup of tea in one hand and the camera in the other hand to just standing there and watching.</p><p id="6c5c">Also, the cranes began to arrive. First, I just heard their calls. Then I saw them flying in formations across the sky. The closer they got, the louder got their cacophony of calls.</p><figure id="d93f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*HhBujwtmePVSp06bHk75Kw.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="fe27"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*uGbRjpqHEWCamoWNv4FZqA.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="8e32"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*H4kawBkVTMwNnGheRHtt_g.jpeg"><figcaption>Cranes in the sunrise sky. | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="648d">I am missing words to describe what I felt at that moment.</p><p id="36ab">But I felt at ease.&nbsp;Filled&nbsp;with&nbsp;joy. Happy. Yes, I was happy. And I’m sure I was smiling even though nobody was watching me.</p><figure id="a423"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*aAF53FI3Y2mm26mmvuDQPg.jpeg"><figcaption>A festival of colors above the foggy ground. | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="da84">And it took another half an hour before I got to see the glowing ball.</p><p id="4031" type="7">The sun.</p><figure id="45ac"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*mL_rtNvpefx3D0-J6opMUQ.jpeg"><figcaption>The sun was still not up. | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="85c4">What used to be predominantly orange was now more yellow.</p><figure id="7d4c"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*ugL66f1-PAA5p-bwm23CJA.jpeg"><figcaption>It’s all about the birds. | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="6339">The layer of fog was still hovering above the ground and now more and more cranes and geese were arriving. Yes, geese are migrating too and they are aiming for the same feeding grounds as t

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he cranes.</p><p id="ef51">Behind me, it was getting loud now. The cacophony of calls from both of these bird species mixed with some crows was something very special.</p><figure id="b614"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*4kBo07NNkI-00SvwTXXTPQ.jpeg"><figcaption>Foggy morning. | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="6ad8">I kept on looking toward the sun but still heard the sounds of nature. I felt the joy of these birds finding so much food before they were heading further on their journey South. Yes, their calls were happy ones.</p><figure id="604f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*uKWXXHJOJLDzRAQ7vOSfqw.jpeg"><figcaption>Fog, sun, and blue skies. | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="fe1f">I went back down to capture the lone standing blow ball once more. This time with some spiderwebs connecting another plant and the rising sun in the background.</p><figure id="7350"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*lhxJRBlKZGY5jJDrsp9y3w.jpeg"><figcaption>The blowball glowing in the morning. | Credit: <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert">Anne Bonfert</a></figcaption></figure><p id="e590">Now, it was really time to get to work. I skipped breakfast, packing, and all the other stuff I was supposed to do. And I surely don’t regret it.</p><p id="c109">This hour of watching the sun rise above the horizon was something I will remember for long.</p><p id="a366" type="7">“The secret to a good morning is to watch the sunrise with an open heart.” — Anthony T. Hincks</p><h2 id="cf3e">More about sunrise and sunset photography:</h2><div id="e0a6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/towards-the-rising-sun-ec955b8ce7f6"> <div> <div> <h2>Towards the Rising Sun</h2> <div><h3>The magic of the African twilight</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*p-hkg5S09eXPVd-odxAXxA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="bd76" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-magic-of-a-sunset-608b539fed88"> <div> <div> <h2>The Magic of a Sunset</h2> <div><h3>The story behind the beauty of sunrise and sunset</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*-N9itIZGxd2FvtbbDnlQIg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><blockquote id="30f9"><p>Join my email list <a href="https://mailchi.mp/9dd74c10ac6b/signup-mydreamofafrica">here</a> if you would like to read more photo essays or sign up for the <a href="https://medium.com/@anne.bonfert/membership">Medium membership</a> to receive unlimited access to my and other writers’ stories out here (I will receive a commission fee in return).</p></blockquote></article></body>

One Magical Sunrise

When the sun changes how you feel

One magical sunrise. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

I stood there sipping on my cup of tea watching the orange move up on the clouds in the South. With every breath I took the sky was just a little bit more colorful. It was as if I was watching a movie. But it was the movie called “real life”.

David kept on calling me. I should get ready. Eat breakfast. Brush my teeth. Get ready for work. Start packing. It was our last weekend at work. And yes, Monday we were leaving this place.

There were so many things I was supposed to do.

But I decided all those things could wait. I knew I wouldn’t experience this moment again. Ever. This moment, if not lived, is gone. Forever.

And so I stayed. Watched and marveled.

Orange. Lots of orange. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

This morning when I opened the door of our trailer and looked outside I felt something special was about to happen. I decided to put my warm jacket on and be prepared for the chill in the air.

I saw the first colors in the sky peaking through in between the trailers.

Anticipating what was about to happen. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

Yes, it was worth taking out the camera I decided.

The beginning of a magical sunrise. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

It was still pretty dark outside and the campground was also asleep.

A silhouette. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

One lonely blowball was standing strong in the morning mist.

Everything was wet. And cold.

Water droplets. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

A thin layer of fog was hovering above the meadow. Not more. Just one layer.

A few clouds were spread across the sky but nothing big.

The air felt fresh.

Yes, it was foggy. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

And then it began. Step by step the orange color moved up the clouds.

Step by step… | Credit: Anne Bonfert

Until the entire sky was on fire.

An explosion of colors in the sky. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. What was unfolding in front of my eyes was too beautiful to be real.

I swapped between the cup of tea in one hand and the camera in the other hand to just standing there and watching.

Also, the cranes began to arrive. First, I just heard their calls. Then I saw them flying in formations across the sky. The closer they got, the louder got their cacophony of calls.

Cranes in the sunrise sky. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

I am missing words to describe what I felt at that moment.

But I felt at ease. Filled with joy. Happy. Yes, I was happy. And I’m sure I was smiling even though nobody was watching me.

A festival of colors above the foggy ground. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

And it took another half an hour before I got to see the glowing ball.

The sun.

The sun was still not up. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

What used to be predominantly orange was now more yellow.

It’s all about the birds. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

The layer of fog was still hovering above the ground and now more and more cranes and geese were arriving. Yes, geese are migrating too and they are aiming for the same feeding grounds as the cranes.

Behind me, it was getting loud now. The cacophony of calls from both of these bird species mixed with some crows was something very special.

Foggy morning. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

I kept on looking toward the sun but still heard the sounds of nature. I felt the joy of these birds finding so much food before they were heading further on their journey South. Yes, their calls were happy ones.

Fog, sun, and blue skies. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

I went back down to capture the lone standing blow ball once more. This time with some spiderwebs connecting another plant and the rising sun in the background.

The blowball glowing in the morning. | Credit: Anne Bonfert

Now, it was really time to get to work. I skipped breakfast, packing, and all the other stuff I was supposed to do. And I surely don’t regret it.

This hour of watching the sun rise above the horizon was something I will remember for long.

“The secret to a good morning is to watch the sunrise with an open heart.” — Anthony T. Hincks

More about sunrise and sunset photography:

Join my email list here if you would like to read more photo essays or sign up for the Medium membership to receive unlimited access to my and other writers’ stories out here (I will receive a commission fee in return).

Nature
Sunrise
Photography
Inspiration
Photo Essay
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