sunrise, sunrise

I woke up too early, again. But I couldn't help it. We'd just flown from Seoul, South Korea where we were visiting family during school vacation to Tokyo, Japan for the weekend as an early 10-year anniversary celebration, and there was not going to be enough hours in the next two days. 

So I jumped out of bed, and started packing film, water bottles and maps for the day when a sense of warmth and comfort pressed gently against my cheek and blinded me for a few seconds.

Now, you have to understand that I never get to see or witness the beauty of a sunrise where I live.

My heart gasped and paused in deep respect and gratitude.

And then I compulsively loaded my Polaroid camera with film and took this shot.

What about you? Do you enjoy watching (and shooting) the sunrise? Please share your images today in the comment section below.

...........

To celebrate Giveaway May leave your comment (by Monday night at midnight PST) to be entered for a chance to win a 8"x12" print of this photo of the Eiffel Tower.

Update on Sunday, May 16, 2010 by Irene Nam

Thank you all so much for sharing your images! So many beautiful sunrises (and sunsets) here. The winner of the print is Karen Travels. Congratulations Karen! Please email me your address so I can send you your print.

Comments

[kosenrufu mama]

this picture is amazing!!!! i'm without words...

[sylvia]

Unfortunately I usually miss the sunset, I am too much of a night owl. Beautiful picture...looking forward to more shots of Tokyo. Yeah for Giveaway May!

[Marcie]

What an absolutely stunning urban image!!
I'm an early-bird..and even when I'm not photographing the sun rise..I'm photographing its magical light:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=198
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=194

[Brenda]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/destin1/4396549579
http://www.flickr.com/photos/destin1/4396534241

[Karen Travels]

http://clumsyhiker.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunrise-sunrise.html


Love it here.

[Juju]

Sunrise in the city--I like it, including the smoky, hazy effect.
Here's a sunrise over a southern bay, a cloudy morning full of the promise of rain, reminding me of the old rhyme: Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juju-b/4591875918/

[KL]

Beautiful.

If I can at all help it, I do not see the sunrise. Especially in summer, when it rises at an absurdly early hour. But babies somtimes have other ideas.

A sunrise from our vacation last year...

http://blessourmess.blogspot.com/2009/09/on-vacation.html

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

Every time I have to be awake early for something and happen to see the sunrise or just how the landscape looks in the morning I always thing "man... I need to wake up early to do some photographing of the early morning!" But when it comes to actually waking up... well... bed always works out so well. Most of my sunrise/sunset photos are sunsets for that reason.

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com

[Tracy]

I've always preferred sunrises.

Before the sun came over the mountains in Albuquerque.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4357780527_0d04a0a07c_b.jpg

[chris]

I enjoy both the sunrise and sunset, but prefer the latter with the deeper, more dramatic colors and shadows it brings out!

[Jen]

I love this you know. I love the start of the day, always so new and clean.

This was shot visiting my parents in the desert. I was surprised it even came out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32172714@N02/4541131180/in/set-72157620210020124/

[kristin]

i am a confessed night owl, so seeing the sunrise does not happen often for me. but this past year o have caught quite a few and oh my goodness each time is magical and recharges my soul. makes me wish i could get my butt to bed earlier every night and enjoy the sunrise each day... who knows maybe i will work on that. this is one of my faves. i was alone on the beach at our hotel, it was SO very cold and beautiful outside. the sun was just beginning to shoot color in the sky i turned to see my reflection in the sliding glass doors. i was so happy for this moment of solitude and beauty i clicked to remember the moment.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3957570666/

another morning i had a solo walk on our beach and saw the sun rise over our ocean. there is nothing quite like it. i made a slide show of the walk....

http://www.bighugelabs.com/slideshow.php?id=69803

thank you for this post it was good looking back at these images for me today.
maybe one day this week i will make sure i get up early to watch it rise again.

happy mother's day irene! and to all the momma shutter sisters out there.

[Toni M]

Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies here.

I love both sunrise and sunset; however I am usually only able to capture the sunsets. My favorite shot is this one after a thunderstorm:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michel92/3380147249/in/set-72157613827367865/

[georgia]

what a beautiful photo!

i rarely see the sunrise either. always the sunset. you've inspired me to get up early some day and drive to lake michigan to watch the sun rise over it.

i don't even think i have a single sunrise photo to share. maybe soon.

[wendy jane]

The beauty of this world we live in never ceases to amaze me. Just Fabulous!

[Kate Sutterfield]

http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-want-to-start-every-day-with-cotton.html

A good sunrise is a perfect start the day!

[Kate Sutterfield]

http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-want-to-start-every-day-with-cotton.html

A good sunrise is a perfect start the day!

[Clara]

I lived in South Florida (I grew up in Key West) for a good deal of my life, and was fortunate to see many beautiful sunrises. Sunrise has always been a special time for, and this beautiful image is great reminder of how much I appreciate the silence and privacy of the early morning. It's when I do my best thinking and when my spirit is most at peace. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Happy Mother's Day to all.

[aphrodite]

I love being able to catch the sunrise.

[Julie]

Both your photo, and the photo I hope to win the print of are so lovely!
I'm from the prairies so Sunsets are my favourite to shoot, but I don't have any in a form that I can share right now!

[cigi]

Beautiful image. I'm rarely up early enough to see the sunrise but sometimes I'm rewarded for my effort:

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/40365/

[Pamela]

This pictures captures EXACTLY why I need to go Paris! Would be lovely to have this print to inspire us to go!

[tara]

I love, love, love waking up for the sunrise! (Although I've been a little more protective of my sleep ever since boy wonder arrived).

[ellen]

Sometimes it truly catches you off-guard. I took this with my iPhone front our front door when my camera was in the shop!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31044730@N06/4399288468/in/set-72157623117727314/

[Eden]

I'm another rarity!!! Haven't done a sunrise photo yet!! But I love that time of day!! Wonderful picture!

[Kathleen]

My kitchen window faces east. There are some times of the year (usually when winter is beginning) when I will be busy making lunches or buttering cinnamon toast or pouring milk when, all of a sudden, I am drawn to the window. I drop everything and pick up my camera. Somehow, the summer sunrises are not as breathtaking...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/4148705698/

[Krista Kruger]

Beautiful picture! Wow...

[claudia]

you can never have too many sunset shots, I don't take enough, here's a recent one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4522673760/in/set-72157623117088660/
love the Eiffel Tower shot!!

[Karen]

Sunrise and sunset are my favorite lighting. So golden and soft.
your Eiffel Tower shot is awesome.

[brittany]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/4455313575/

love a good sunrise!

[AnnGeeDee]

Both of my children are larks so even on vacation I get "lucky" enough to see the sunrise. Like this morning.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/40070449@N08/4593569403/ Happy Mother's Day to all!

[Barbara Israel]

I'd love to win the photo of the Eiffel Tower. I was born in Neuilly-Sur-Seine right outside of Paris so the Eiffel Tower holds special meaning for me. The sunrise photo is beautiful.

These sunrise photos were taken in Greece (one right after the other!): http://picasaweb.google.com/bkisrael/TripToGreece2008#5364087969690967634
http://picasaweb.google.com/bkisrael/TripToGreece2008#5364087954411366050

[Aia]

great capture :)

i love capturing the sunrise!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aclamp/4531021529/in/set-72157622806842381/

[darrah]

This reminded me of a photo I took a few weeks ago. I was visiting NY and accidentally left the curtains open in my Brooklyn hotel room, so only the sheer curtain was blocking light from coming in. I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep because I was mesmerized by the golden light pouring into the room. I immediately jumped up and took this photo (and about 30 others). It's a wonder that my husband was able to sleep through all that clicking!

http://www.darrahparker.com/blog/wish-i-may-wish-i-might.html

[Marina D-K]

I also have not often taken a sunrise photo...I'm hoping to get my first on the Maine coast during our August vacation =)

[elk]

so very artistic ... the sun and you


a little understated but there :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/3317359623

[Lynn M]

Finally got a shot at the sunrise in Key West last month; my first sunrise on the beach!

[Grace]

I have only begun discovering the photo capabilities of my Droid...but here is a link to a sunrise pic that I took with my phone in Toy mode:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12589879@N08/4558121286/

I love it!

[Alesa]

This site has opened my eyes to how versatile a polaroid really is. I have been scanning old polaroids and I ahve been having a negative attitude about them. Thanks for opening my eyes.

[Jennifer]

Love the photo of the eiffel tower! beautiful

[cynthia]

Great polaroid shot! Being a mom to 2 young boys, I do what ever it takes NOT to be up that early : )

[student aid]

Very nice themes for the my blog tags this is very nice collection thanks for shearing me.
http://www.estudentaid.com/

[Katie]

hello. i live in australia o the east coast at a little place called kincumber. its aboriginal name means 'towards the rising sun.' i'm happy that you saw this sunrise. the australian aboriginals used to have a spiritual practice whereby they would watch both the sunrise & the sunset every day.

[Sarah W]

Stunning. Sunrises and sets always take my breath away.

[soupatraveler]

love a good sunrise, here's one of my favorites, http://www.flickr.com/photos/46922592@N00/3409877345/in/set-72157616261864210/, from a solo trip to mauritius.

[Teresa]

The Eiffel Tower photo is amazing!

[Dana]

WOW!! So beautiful

[bella]

Irene, that is a gorgeous shot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirovic/2717028403/in/set-72157601863473267/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirovic/3547161660/in/set-72157601863473267/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirovic/2977674349/in/set-72157621921902210/

[medical school]

awesome post.