Dawn and Dusk in Sicily

When in Sicily you: eat pizza, drink wine, and wake up early to take pre-dawn pictures.

No? Just me? These photos are my attempt at capturing my favorite periods in the day, dawn and dusk, in the rugged coastal city of Catania. Here goes.

Before work one morning, I strolled the long boardwalk that hugs the city along the Sicilian coastline. Observing fisherman calmly beginning their day on the salty water, the sun sleepily rising above the horizon and Mt. Etna basking in the morning light made for quite a scene. The stillness of the early morning hours, the anticipation for the day ahead, the energy, all so tangible. Later returning to the hotel, the sky was on fire with color and life yet no one stirred. Cappuccinos and croissants had to wait until 7AM.

As the Sicilian work day came to a close, the crowds gathered for drinks at outdoor tables (dinner doesn’t start until 9PM though). Chatter filled the still air along with a commotion of whirling hands as stories from the day were shared. For the younger population, this was the time of freedom from school’s grasp, be it with a fishing pole or friends. The peace of blue hour arrived and bellies growled, then just like that, night.

My preference – dawn. What about you?

P.S. Notice anything different around here? I jumped on the A Beautiful Mess bandwagon and bought their Lightroom presets for $10. I love them because the produce drastically different images from what I typically aspire for, especially with black and white shots. Now my creative juices are really kicking. What do you think? Feedback is welcome. 😉