“Sunrise Take-Off” happened in the blink of an eye.
I had come to the shore of beautiful Lake George, New York, hoping for a burst of morning color. But the clouds were stubborn — heavy, unbroken, and showing no signs of letting the sun through. I was moments away from packing up when everything changed. The clouds began to lift rapidly, allowing golden light to spill over the mountains to the east.
At that exact moment, the ducks and geese gathered to my left erupted in honking — their signal to take flight. Instinct took over. I quickly raised my camera and captured a few frames just as they lifted off, gliding across the shimmering water.
A passerby on their morning walk paused beside me, stunned by the sudden transformation. “Wow, look at that!” they said — and we both stood there in awe.
It was a magical sunrise — the kind that rewards patience and reminds us how quickly nature can turn an ordinary moment into something unforgettable.
