While exploring New Zealand’s South Island, I found myself staying on a dairy farm nestled beneath the Kaikōura Ranges. The forecast had been grim the night before, and I still hadn’t captured the sunrise I’d been holding out for.

But that morning, I decided to trust my gut, and I’m so glad I did. I woke up at first light, glanced out the window, and was out the door in seconds. Sprinting down the road, I set up the composition I’d been quietly planning for days.

As the sun began to rise, it cast a warm glow across the snow-dusted peaks. The stillness of the air was broken only by the gentle sounds of cows calving in the distance. In that moment, the world felt new, painted in pastels, grounded in life, and soaked in gratitude.

This wasn’t just a sunrise. It was a celebration of beginnings.

Photo by: Bradley Basten