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Tag: sunrise photography

March 2, 2025

Wake Up on your Cruise before Sunrise to Snap your Best Photos

Independence of the Seas deck 12 at sunrise in the Caribbean after the rain

Some of the prime photo opportunities on a cruise happen while everyone else is sleeping. Here are 5 reasons to wake up early.

Why would anyone intentionally get up early on a cruise? It’s dark out, everything is closed, and nothing is seemingly happening onboard. You should probably catch up on your z’s and sleep in along with the other thousands of guests. But you’d be missing the opportunity greet the dawn’s light.

And that’s exactly what I did each morning on our Royal Caribbean cruise to Nassau out of Miami on the Independence of the Seas. It’s totally worth it for five big reasons.

#1
Your Moment of Zen
As the sky glows orange and the sun prepares for its entrance shortly after 5:30am, it’s just you and maybe a couple dozen other people on the massive deck. There are no crowds or music. No splashing or lines of people.

It’s just you, the vessel, the vast ocean and the refreshing breeze that centers you in this stunning ‘waterworld.’ It’s such an amazing feeling. You’ve effectively got the entire deck to yourself.

Sure, you can take some great pictures, but it’s much more than that.

#2
Perfect View of the Sunrise
So, the wind blows. If you’re like me, you’ve got your cup of Joe with you. And then the sky comes to life. And if you’ve got some cloud action, you’re really in for a treat. It’s absolutely time to take out your phone or camera and start snapping away!
View of sunrise from the Independence of the SeasGolden Caribbean sunrise from the Independence of the Seas

But capturing a great sunrise is just the beginning.

#3
It’s Also About your Ship
So, you’d be missing half the story if you just snapped a few shots of the sunrise. Your cruise is not only about the sunrise. It’s about where you are in that moment of the sunrise and revealing your larger location.
It’s all about your gigantic ship. That’s really the visual story here. It’s incredible, right? So, include it in your shots and show your vessel!
Independence of the Seas deck 12 at sunrise in the Caribbean
#4
Docking at Dawn
On the first two mornings, our ship’s itinerary got us to our Caribbean islands as the morning sun appeared. For me, entering port is its own photo opportunity. Docking as the sun rises makes it especially magical.
Independence of the Seas docks in NassauHere, we’re docking in Nassau.

Vision of the Seas at sunrise docked at CocoCayAs we docked at CocoCay, I was fortunate that Royal Caribbean’s smaller Vision of the Seas was already there, perfectly positioned for my sunrise photo.

#5
Sunrise Silhouettes
There’s also the opportunity to captures cool silhouettes of the few folks who have also journeyed on deck to greet the sunrise. So, now you’ve got the sunrise, your ship and a little humanity to pull it all together. That composition will make for a great photo.
Woman in silhouette watches sunrise from Independence of the Seas aftMan in silhouette watches sunrise from Independence of the SeasWoman in silhouette on Independence of the SeasWoman in silhouette watches sunrise on Independence of the SeasWoman and man watch sunrise from the Independence of the Seas

Don’t Sleep In
Yes, if you don’t get up early on your cruise, you’ll miss some of your best photo opportunities for the entire day. I also discovered it’s one of the top ways to experience drinking your first cup of coffee in the morning.
Cup of coffee on Independence of the Seas near MiamiHere, we’ve returned to Miami to (sadly) end our cruise, but my joy continues.

So, don’t forget to set your wake-up alarm early, and I assure you…
You won’t regret it.

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July 7, 2024

Why I Woke Up Early on Vacation to Spot the Sunrise Instead of Sleeping In

I used the early mornings from my summer vacation to capture timelapses of the sun rising over the mud flats in Cape Porpoise, Maine. Here’s how I set up my photo gear.

Creating a timelapse video of the sunrise is like looking at a snowflake. One is never exactly the same as the next. The sun may arrive on schedule, but the surrounding weather is always the wild card.

Specifically, it’s all about the clouds. They will make or break your sunrise timelapse photography every time. Yes, you don’t want a cloud to be blocking the sun as it makes its grand entrance on the horizon, but that’s only one piece.

Wonderful Clouds
Properly positioned in your shot, clouds are the secret ingredient that can create a spectacular sunrise in a timelapse. They’re always on the move, and a timelapse will speed up their motion. Plus, clouds augment the visual drama by reflecting the orange hues on the horizon and adding stunning contrasts to what can otherwise be a boring blue sky.

But it all must organically come together for your camera at the right time. Every morning doesn’t offer the perfect sunrise. So, repetition is key.

The Magical Mud Flats
Over the past three summers, my family and I have been driving up the Maine coast to the same beach house for a little R&R.

The house overlooks the mud flats of Cape Porpoise near Kennebunkport. And if you walk for 15 seconds to the edge of the ‘flats’ at the crack of dawn, you’re offered a magnificent environmental canvas for the sunrise. (Whether the flats are dry or filled with tidal ocean water, it’s always a stunning view.)

We’ve been sharing this Maine vacation experience with two other families, and each morning while everyone was still asleep, I got up at 4:35am to get my gear in place ahead of the sunrise. (And if you’re concerned that I haven’t been giving myself the opportunity to sleep in and rest up, don’t worry. I caught up on my Z’s during luxurious afternoon vacation naps.)

DJI Osmo Pocket 3
My camera of choice for my ongoing sunrise timelapse project is currently the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. Its superpower is its tiny gimbal design. The lens can be programmed to pan left or right throughout the timelapse sequence. (DJI calls that a ‘motionlapse.’)

I bought the original Osmo Pocket back in 2019, and I’ve just upgraded to the third-generation model (Pocket 3), which among other improvements boasts a larger 1” sensor size for better image quality.
I usually set my timelapses to run for 30 minutes, with each frame set at 3-second intervals. That creates a 20 second timelapse. (Sometimes I double it and go a full hour for a 40-second timelapse.)

I try to start at least 10-15 minutes before the first edge of the sun peeks out, and then I let my Osmo Pocket track the sun during those wonderful early minutes before it becomes too intense for the camera. (I also use a DJI ND16 magnetic filter which acts like sunglasses for the lens.)

Holiday Parade
This year, the best sunrise presented itself to my Osmo Pocket 3 on July 4th.

When I stumbled out of bed with my Pocket 3 and tripod, I spotted a few clouds already in good position. I set up my gear at the edge of the flats for the full hour, crossed my fingers and walked away to get a cup of Joe. When I returned, I was so pleased with what I got. The clouds offered up a perfect parade.
My Magic Hour
Waking up early to document sunrises may seem like a counterintuitive vacation activity. But when the opportunity is literally right in front of you, it’s hard to pass up.

Plus, I usually rise on the early side throughout the year for what I call my ‘magic hour’ from 5:30-6:30am. I use this time for my blog writing and photography editing. My mind is fresh, and I find that the creativity flows.

So, waking up 40 minutes earlier for my vacation sunrise timelapse project isn’t such a big change from my usual routine.

Another benefit of greeting the sunrise is the massive sense of accomplishment you get before most people are even awake. I’m a huge believer of ‘doing’ in the morning hours. The rest of the day then feels much fuller.

Tend to your Flame
There’s nothing wrong with waking up late when you’re taking some time off.

But for me, I find happiness practicing my personal photography. Capturing a glorious sunrise always juices my joy factor.

Even capturing the energy of a blustery, cloudy morning brings me great satisfaction.
This cloudy morning on day 2 of our Maine vacation obscured the sunrise, but my resulting timelapse still did not disappoint.

It’s about exploring the art of the unexpected. Results will inevitably vary.

Practicing your craft, whatever that may be, will always revitalize your spark.

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