My alarm is set for 4:30AM, but I always awake before it goes off. The temptation is strong to stay in bed, although not as strong as it is during the winter! I know inspiration will come if I just follow my plan, up before dawn to shoot. It is about a 30 minute drive to the shores of Mono Lake. As I walk along the shore it is just slightly cool, and a huge relief from the 100 degree temperatures the area has been seeing for about a week. I setup my Insta360 Pro for a sunrise timelapse and find a spot for my manual rotating platform and Panasonic Lumix g9ii. Those are my tools for the summer, along with a dual Gopro setup and gimbal. I try and keep my cameras to a minimum, but my goal is to capture some B-Roll video in stereo so I deal with the extra equipment. The insta360 pro is easy to setup and decent enough quality for a Vlog style documentation. I'm testing the GoPro as a way to create spatial photos ala Apple.
I made several photos, and while the sky was unfortunately cloudless, the morning color did not disappoint! This is my summer photography rhythm, up at 5AM, shoot, rest during the day, and then back at it around 6. Sunset isn't until 8:20PM this time of year! While I can't control inspiration, I know where the creative muse lives, if I show up I just might catch her.