My favourite time of day, at any time of the year, is sunrise. Anything is possible at sunrise. Anything.
I have my alarm set for 5:15 am every day. I am often already in the car when it goes off. The sun rises at different times of the day depending on the season. If the sky is full of cloud the sun may rise unseen. Or it may peek through and light the clouds from beneath making them seem on fire.
If the sky is clear, photographing sunrise can actually damage your camera as the sun burns into your sensor. Images may be overexposed. Or, if the camera compensates the other way, too dark. I shoot in full manual mode which gives me absolute exposure control for each shot. If you play peekaboo with the sun you can get a balance between light and dark that is quite magical. I like to do that. As here.
The tree has a wonderfully intricate silhouette. It also takes the edge off what would be intense bright light, softening it. As that sunlight travels through the early morning mist it is further softened, slowing it to give an ethereal feel to the landscape. As it finally passes through the dew-covered long grass it gains a golden syrup quality, becoming impossibly stationary. Physics and nature in perfect balance for one fleeting moment that is quite breathtaking. I love sunrise.
