Early Summer Mornings (But Not TOO Early)


Shooting the sunrise in Provincetown this time of year is tough. You need to wake up pretty early, given sunrise times around 5-5:30a. I’m an early riser, but not *that* early. 


So instead of shooting the sunrise itself, I go hunting for good early morning light between 6:30a and 7:30a. That window of time, I find, is humane from a sleep perspective but also still offers a dreamy sense of light, in terms of tone and brightness. 


By 8a this time of year–especially on clear days–-the light is too bright for my taste. It washes out the details and shadows that make photography interesting to me. 


Due to rainy weather, my schedule, and a nasty bout of covid, I haven’t had too many mornings to get out and about early this Summer. But I managed to do so once in June and again in early July, and really enjoyed being outside and the photos that I was able to make. 


This time of year Provincetown is filled with tourists, both people who are here for a few months, weeks, or days, as well as day-trippers from other Cape towns and Boston and Providence. The streets–and beaches, restaurants, and shops–are often packed in a way that seems impossible when we’re in the depths of Winter and I am likely to see as many coyotes as humans when I’m on my morning run past the beaches and through the dunes. 


These early morning Summer outings are a welcome break from the crowds and noise that Summer days and nights bring. It’s also a chance to shoot the harbor under that soft morning light, including all the boats that are moored in the water for the season. 


I love the calm of these mornings, and being able to hear the wind and waves, and shore and land birds busily chattering at the start of the day. The way the gentle early sun hits the buildings makes me feel like time is paused, like the clocks are holding their breath waiting for town to wake up. 


This sense of calm is a welcomed way to start the day, and a reminder of the noise and energy that’s to come in an hour or two. 


In the Winter, those of us who live here year-round often long for the crowds–-as well as this warmer version of the sun and breezes. These Summer mornings are a reminder to slow down and be right here, right now, and to take in the delicate, precious beauty of this place.