2026-05-09 Sunrise, Port Macquarie

7th of May, 2026

I wasn't able to sleep too well, perhaps what happens is that the anticipation of a good sunrise gets to me, and I sleep thinking about compositions, potential light, and worrying I won't get it right.

5am, I got up, snuck out of the house trying not to wake anyone or our dogs, into the car and straight into town. I arrived just as the light was emerging on the horizon - just in time!

I grabbed my backpack and my drone bag after parking at Town Beach and then walked down past Salty Crew and on to the beach. I saw and nodded to Ken Little who with others was making an early start to his day, legend!

On to the beach, in thongs (when will I ever learn...) and along the low tide path across to Flagstaff Cove, that little beach you see as you're headed from Town Beach to Flagstaff down on your left. Thankfully it was quite low and whilst my feet did get wet, it wasn't so bad and the waves weren't cause for concern.

I setup my tripod, tried for a few long exposures, starting out wider aperture, ISO 1000, 5-6 seconds and really didn't like the results. I eventually moved into F11, ISO 400 and into a few seconds and things started working out quite well.

After checking the DJI app I could see my allowable flight window was approaching quick, so a few more shots, then I waited 5 minutes, then sent the drone up.

Wow, what a show! Pinks, reds, oranges, yellows and blues, all on show. I am really glad I managed to get up and out for what I thought had great potential for sunrise, and for once, it didn't let me down.

Thanks for reading, here are my photos from this shoot.