Photographing Sunrise Around the World
Once the blue hour appears from hours of darkness, it’s likely there’s a photographer, perhaps thousands of them, packing their bags and venturing out to a location with one specific purpose.
To photograph the rising sun.
When the world is waking up, photographers are out and about scouring coastlines, alpine vistas and angles in cities all over, hoping for a golden glow that illuminates their chosen scene.
The Travel Photography Club is now filled with both amateur and professional photographers from over 18 countries, I wanted to collate a series of images to feature their experiences, advice and locations for shooting sunrise. The notes shared within this post are written in the words of each photographer, relating to their experience, their thoughts, and location tips.
Shall we take a little peek at the shimmering skies they’ve found?
Location: Yamuna Ghat, Delhi
Photographer: Peter Walmsley (Website)
Sunrise Experience Notes: This image is taken from Yamuna Ghat: steps leading down to the Yamuna river behind the Red Fort in Delhi. Between November and mid-March, crowds of migratory seagulls from Russia descend on the Ghat tempted by the grain which is offered by the local boat owners. This makes it a haven for photographers. Boat rides are offered to tourists and wedding couples to take advantage of the romantic setting. Arriving before sunrise, I declined the boat ride to get the action from the shore. Luckily other customers were keen to oblige.
Location: The Almsee, Austria
Photographers: Karin and Markus Haffert (Website)
Sunrise Experience Notes: The Almsee (alpine lake in German) in the Salzkammergut area is especially beautiful in autumn with the colourful foliage! It is best reached by car via Grünau im Almtal. There are parking spaces right by the lake. The Almsee is ideal for taking photos at golden and blue hour, when the water is calm and the reflections clear. After a cool night with little wind you have good chances of mist swirling over the water. Bring your wide-angle and telelens (around 200 mm will do) and walk along the 9 km circular trail for a variety of stunning motifs.
Location: Mount Feathertop, Victoria, Australia.
Photographer: Ainslie Holland (Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: Sunrise over Mt Feathertop in the Australian alpine range. After an overnight hike me and my buddy set our alarms early. We watched as the surrounding mountains were bathed in early morning light not a soul in sight, we had it all to ourselves. Snapping this shot to immortalise a fleeting but beautiful moment in time.
Location: Lake Bled, Slovenia
Photographer: Prathibha Muralidhara (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes:
This is a little story of not giving up as a photographer and possibly seeing the best sunrise and getting one of my best shots until now. After 5 days of non-stop rain, the rain gods showed me mercy and cleared the skies for a beautiful morning on Lake Bled in Slovenia. What I show here is how the beautiful yellow rays of the sun light up the Assumption of Mary church on Bled Island. It was very peaceful, the water stood still and the mist cleared up. Patience and hope are the key is capturing moments like this as a photographer.
Location: Olenilsøya Kystfort, Norway
Photographer: Cedric Favero (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: As the sun rises over the Lofoten Islands, Olenilsøya Kystfort offers a commanding view of Hamnøy, a picturesque fishing village nestled among the fjords and rugged mountains. The dawn light touches the snow-dusted peaks and casts a warm glow over the frozen landscape, turning the scene into a stunning mix of golden light and cool shadows.
From this vantage point, Hamnøy’s red and white fishing cabins create a striking contrast against the snowy slopes and deep blue waters of the fjord. Anticipate a 15-20 minute walk, depending on snow conditions, to reach the top of the hill.
Location: Grand Teton National Park, USA
Photographer: Rachel Francis (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: Grand Teton National Park has absolutely beautiful sunrises, with the dramatic east-facing side of the mountains reflecting the pink and orange hues of the rising sun. To get this shot, I woke up two hours before sunrise and drove an hour into the park through thick fog. Because of the low visibility, I had to try a few different locations until I found a good vantage point to capture Mount Moran just barely peeking through the fast-moving clouds. I used a telephoto lens to really emphasize the beautiful colors and textures of the peak shrouded in mist and fog.
Location: Currumbin Beach, Gold Coast, Australia
Photographer: Julia Marr (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: Witnessing the sunrise at Currumbin Beach is a serene and awe-inspiring experience. As the first rays of sunlight emerge, the sky is painted with vibrant hues of orange, pink, and gold, reflecting off the calm ocean waves. The sound of gentle waves crashing against the rocky shoreline adds a meditative rhythm to the moment. The cool morning breeze carries a sense of tranquillity, blending with the soft light to create a peaceful ambience. The silhouette of distant buildings on the horizon fades into the warmth of the rising sun, offering a perfect balance between nature and human presence.
Location: Fistral Beach, Newquay, England
Photographer: Dita Arucidisova (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: Early morning calls of the ocean coastline. Guaranteed experience when rising up in one of the cornish seaside towns in the south of England. This image was captured in town called Newquay. A place I keep calling my home to this day, even after moving away 2 years ago. I like to come back to remind myself, where the initial inspiration of my life now was ignited. It´s 6.30 am and I am walking the rocky shore of Fistral beach to scout the terrain before my upcoming photoshoot for my friend starting just couple hours later. It does not happen very often, but on this day, the surface of the ocean stood still. The serene silence of calm waters was interrupted by a screeching group of feeding seagulls, but what a scene to witness. And to document. The sun has just risen up and illuminated the vast ocean in front of me as well as the dancing bodies of the well known local seabirds. I had planned to wake up early and stroll around the beach, but this shot was a spur of the moment incident, which is how I usually get to capture some of my most favourite images. And so I share to recommend to others always making space for unexpected magical moments to come in.
Location: Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina, USA
Photographer: Carrie Hanrahan (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: The weathered and windblown trees of the boneyard beach at Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina have a story to tell. I awoke in the dark and drove 20 minutes to the parking lot surrounded by the maritime forest . Grabbing my camera and tripod, I quickly made my way along the sandy trail while keeping an eye out for nocturnal creatures. I was thrilled to discover that there was no one else on the beach as the sun began to rise. The skeletal trees began to take shape and display their stunning beauty along the coastal shoreline.
Location: Matapalo Beach, Costa Rica
Photographer: April Pancoast (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: This serene morning was captured at Matapalo Beach, Costa Rica. I walked the beach along with the crabs diving in their protective holes, at my approach. The sounds of the ocean were a constant as the gorgeous glow of the new day radiated around.
Location: Mount Shasta in Northern California, USA
Photographer: Lisa Kuhn (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: For two days, I watched the rippling morning clouds become illuminated into a soft pink above Mount Shasta in Northern California. I believed that on this third day, something special was going to happen. Up early, I drove to a nearby park. While being battered by the wind, I witnessed a spectacular cloud formation in the northwest; so massive that it completely dwarfed the 4,300-meter mountain. The southeastern rising sun struck the cloud with a brilliant hot pink. Winds regularly converge around Mount Shasta. Neighboring towns are so close to the mountain, that unique perspectives are just around the corner.
Location: Ocean Beach, Flinders, Victoria
Photographer: Sue March (Website + Instagram)
Sunrise Experience Notes: I woke early to get to the perfect spot for a sunrise photo to inspire a friend’s recovery – the ocean beach at Flinders Victoria. As I set up, the sky was completely covered in a layer of grey cloud stretching to the horizon. It seemed pointless, yet I sensed something was going to happen. Soon enough a small chink appeared in the cloud cover and the raw red of a new dawn peaked through the tiny gap. One by one the clouds parted, and golden crepuscular rays beamed down reflecting in the sea below. It was a glorious moment.
Location: Lake Pehoe, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Hello! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs experience as a professional travel and landscape photographer, all advice found on this site is from my personal experience on the road. I hope it’s useful for your own travels and would love to hear in the comments about your trips and experiences around the world.
