Going... Going... Gone: A Dance with Nature's Unpredictability
Quarry Hill 5:37am
In the delicate pre-dawn hush, the world feels full of promise, and for those of us who seek to capture nature's splendour, the thrill of a spectacular sunrise is the ultimate reward. This morning was set to be one of those days—or so I thought. The anticipation of a 4:30 am start kept me tossing and turning all night, eagerly waiting to witness the dawn's breathtaking spectacle. With coffee in hand, I double-checked the forecast, only to be surprised by a sudden prediction of rain. Yet, stepping outside, the sky was clear, adorned with the wispy cirrus clouds I expected, setting my mind at ease.
Destination: Quarry Hill—a location that promises a perfect vantage point. The climb was a personal test, a measure of my fitness journey, now four months into a gym membership. So far- so good I think. The hill, once scorched by fire, was now alive with new growth, transforming the familiar trail into a wild, overgrown path. Nature's guardians, my nemesis the spiders, spun their webs across the dark path, leading to a close encounter with a white tail spider that left both of us startled but unharmed.
Quarry Hill 5:39am - the first signs
Reaching the new clearing, the sky unfurled a fiery orange canvas, mirrored by a flotilla of fishing boats glittering like jewels on the ocean. As I set up my gear, a mist began to roll in, cloaking the landscape in an ethereal shroud. The air grew heavy with moisture, leaving me and my equipment soaked. With sunrise still 40 minutes away, I held onto the hope that the fog would lift, revealing the light show I came to capture. But the mist thickened, turning the vibrant world into a monochrome void.
Quarry Hill 5:40am
Checking the app again, I found the culprit: 91% humidity, a dewpoint of 16ºC, and a temperature of 21ºC, the perfect recipe for a thick fog. It dawned on me that the forecasted rain was merely a misinterpretation of the impending fog. Nature, in her whimsical way, had played her trick, reminding me that even the most meticulous plans can be upended by her capricious hand.
Quarry Hill 5:40am plus 40 seconds
Though the sunrise was hidden, I left with a story—a testament to the unpredictable beauty of the natural world... and one good picture before everything faded to grey.
Quarry Hill 5:44am - 7 minutes before “sunrise”
