The Sunrise That Got Away

A coworker joked around with me about how I am not a morning person. I don't think I'm very unpleasant in the morning. Maybe I am. I hope not terribly so. It might have something to do with me coming to work with no make-up and my hair not brushed on more than a few occasions. No worries. I have the luxury of doing those things there. By the time I usually see faces other than my coworkers I am pretty presentable. I would say it could be because I'm always almost late but that isn't true. I like to be early and I'm always the first one at work, coffee made, and the opening tasks already done.

I actually have no idea where she gets the idea that I'm not a morning person but she is right. I am not.

One of my goals on my 101 in 1001 list is to take a picture of the sunrise. I made this goal for two reasons. The first being I really need to pick up my camera and start shooting again. It has been too long and my camera never use to be out of arms reach. The second being because I rarely get to see a sunrise. If for some reason I am seeing a sunrise I'm sure I'm in no state to notice the breathtaking event happening. It was probably a good night, though.

I want to capture a sunrise.

And this is a story on how I almost did it. Almost being the key word.

It was really early in the morning. The time when sunrises usually happen. Possibly a little after but still early enough that it was barely peaking through the sky. I had a few errands to run before work one day. It must have been important because that never happens. I'm usually never out of my door before exactly when I need to be. Just by chance I had my polaroid camera in a tote bag that was slung over my shoulder as I walked to my car. I started to open my car door when I turned slightly and noticed the sky and the gorgeous color it had. I'm surrounded by trees where I live and that just added to the beauty that I was witnessing. A soft orange color meeting the hazy morning blue color of the sky. It was mingled low in the trees. Beautiful, I tell you and as about as close to a sunrise that I have ever been.

I whipped out my polaroid. I knew wouldn't capture the details as well as my 7d but it would have to do. If anything I could remember this moment and feel inspired to capture another sunrise again soon. I snapped my first photo and out popped the picture from the side. I thought I'd better go ahead and snap another just to be safe I had a good picture. Snap, and out it popped. I put the polaroid back in my tote bag, climbed in my car, and drove off.

It was that easy! I did it! I captured my first sunrise!

Or so I thought.

I looked down at the snapshots on the passenger seat and I could have cried. The pictures were just white. Blank. Nothing. Nada. Zip. There was nothing. There was no picture of a sunrise on either one.

What happened? I somehow moved a setting on a camera that wasn't meant to work in the light I was trying to use. Sad but it happens. It especially happens to a girl who has forgotten all about her cameras for the better part of a year.

And that is my story on how I almost captured a sunrise.

Better luck next time.