Taken on my last trip to Pensacola Beach back in September of this year. This is several minutes before sunrise. While waiting for the sun a school of dolphin came by extremely close to shore, but unfortunately in this shot only one can be seen. When down there on vacation, even though we plan on getting up to photograph the sunrise, we tend to stay up too late, devourer too much fresh seafood and consume far too much fine wine. But it's not an accident; we plan it that way! Although primal hedonism has its virtues the bill arrives just a few short hours later. When that alarm goes off in what seems to be the dead of night I almost wish instead of being a photographer I was one of those graphic artists types who attempt to recreate reality via some computer software program. They don't have to get up at 4:30am! But then I come to my senses. They have no adventure. A photographer is like a hunter. You get up early and set out to capture something that's out there. You might not know exactly what or where, but you actually move your body and head out seeking adventure! Your heart is pumping in anticipation of what you may discover out there. Always lots of surprises! And coffee always tastes best before sunrise. The physical journey in hunting as a photographer is more than half the fun. You just can't get that kind of excitement staring at a monitor in a dark room. For a sunrise you have to be in position ready to go at least 20 minutes before dawn breaks. That time of day is a totally different world. So peaceful. So calm. And sunrises? Shutterbugs and tourists shoot sunsets. Nutcases and photographers shoot sunrises, and I'm comfortable being both. This shot is 1/5 second, ISO-100, f/10. Thanks for stopping by! marshall