"There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope." –Bernard Williams
* * * We rolled out of bed at 3:30 in the morning, excited about our very first visit to Bryce Canyon. Our mission was to catch the sunrise. We were racing against the clock, as we had a bit of a drive through the mountains and deserts of Utah to get to Bryce.
As soon as we arrived, we grabbed our gear and sprinted to the trailhead. We were so stunned by the canyon’s beauty that we didn’t realize we were underdressed. Still in clothes for warm desert hikes, we ran up the trail in freezing temps. We were shivering, but we could see the sun getting ready to rise. We had to hurry to our spot and set up for our shoot. But I can’t think too clearly when I’m cold, thanks to my tropical Filipino blood. So I stopped to pull out the reserve layers and gloves in my camera bag. The winds were so strong it knocked me over as I put on my snow pants. (It’s okay, you can laugh. I did.)
We made it to our location with only few minutes to spare. Thanks to maps and good planning, we knew exactly where to set up to get the sun centered in the frame. As the sun rose, Ken and I were in absolute awe of the beauty that unfolded: one of the most spectacular sunrises we’ve ever seen. This is the first image I felt lucky to create at Bryce Canyon. Even in the bitter cold, my heart was full of warmth. This moment set the tone for the rest of our magical time here.
