Cave Dale Sunrise

Waking up early in the morning for sunrise photos is becoming increasingly challenging. The sun now rises at around 5:30 am, meaning we have to wake up at 4 am. As the sun rises earlier, the boys will complain more about not getting enough sleep. However, waking up at 4 am is quite brutal for anyone who isn’t used to it. But the reward of capturing a magnificent Cave Dale Sunrise makes it all worth it.

To get the perfect shot, it takes an hour and a half of preparation. It includes brushing teeth, making coffee, sandwiches, grabbing the camera and drone. Not to mention driving to the location, and a short 10-minute hike. This allowed us to reach Cave Dale at just the right moment when the sun was peeking through the clouds. The plan sounded perfect, especially after last week’s cloudy sunrise attempt. But this time, there were very few clouds that only added to the mood and gave us wonderful colours. Additionally, we were fortunate enough to get some low hanging mist. It added to the mysteriousness of Castleton and tricked our eyes into believing we were on top of the world.

Despite the early wake-ups, tiredness, and cranky boys, as long as I can capture shots like the one below, I am willing to take on all the challenges. Nothing compares to the joy of witnessing a perfect sunrise like this. All worries disappear, and I can safely say it’s a form of mindfulness. It forces me to be present at that moment, and nothing else matters.

A perfect Cave Dale sunrise ? Checked off my list! Stay tuned for next week’s adventure. I wonder where it will lead us…