Sunrise Shoot | Snohomish County Nature Photographer

I finally did it–something I’ve wanted to do for months . . . I got up before sunrise to catch the “golden hour” of photography!

Yesterday, I got up at 4:30 a.m. on my day off to visit a site about 45 minutes from my house, a place I’d seen a few weeks ago. I couldn’t stop thinking about the beautiful surroundings and how I wanted to photograph them.

I mentioned this amazing feat (my pre-dawn rising) on my Facebook page, asking, “What is happening to me?”

Several of my friends responded with their take on my insanity:

You found something to do that you love: congratulations. :))

U B NUTZ!!!

That is the difference between a job and having passion about what you do.

You enjoyed a spiritual connection with your creator!

And my personal favorite:

Oh, dear. Dana sounds like she’s ready for PA: “Hello, my name is Dana and I’m a photographer. It’s been a whole day since I last photographed . . .”

Funny thing is, they are ALL true!

I missed getting actual photos of the sun rising (maybe next time), as I had to run to the gas station at 5:00 a.m. and by the time I got to my destination, the sun was nearly up! That was fine by me, however, as I knew the light would still be incredible (and it was).

You may notice that a lot of the photos are pretty bright. Well, I purposely experimented with shooting into the sun and really like the effect of the sun glare in some of the photos. It’s a style that may not appeal to everyone, but I’ve come to love and appreciate it in other photographer’s photos, so I wanted to try it myself.

I have a “thing” for barns and love the unique barn in the first photograph. I wanted to get some closer shots from different angles, but the property was fenced and I wasn’t in the mood for trespassing, so I moved on. But not before I was honored with the visit of two deer making their way through the pasture next to the barn.

Most of the photos were taken at a park I discovered a few weeks ago and fell in love with. When I visited yesterday, I was the only one there (in fact, I had to wait for the park to open at 7:00 a.m. to gain entrance).

The pink blossoms on the trees were absolutely gorgeous, the birds were singing, and the early morning sun seemed to elicit a radiance through and around every tree. I know the photos can’t do the scene justice, but I hope they give you some idea of the beauty there.

I didn’t want to leave. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I felt like it was the closest thing to heaven on earth that I’ve experienced–yes, it was that incredible!

While I was out and about, I also stopped to take photos of the animals I pass by every day, usually without taking notice of them. I may be a little weird, but I have always loved cows (maybe because I’ve never been raised around them).

When I photograph an animal, it’s as if I am sharing a personal moment with one of God’s creatures, similar to taking a portrait of a child or a beloved pet. Yeah, I know that sounds all “woo woo” and all, but it’s true. And whenever I see them, I think of the Scripture verse: “He gives drink to every beast of the field.” I’m so glad our Creator gifted us with animals.

Hope you enjoy the photos!