This image very nearly slipped away. Without the right setup for a panoramic frame, every adjustment felt rushed as the sunrise advanced faster than I could respond. Frames didn’t align. Time wasn’t on my side.

Then, just as the light began to settle, Brad appeared, tripod in hand. A simple gesture, but a turning point. With stability came clarity. The colours deepened, the pace slowed, and the first light struck St Michael’s Mount with remarkable precision.

Shadows carved definition into the stone, revealing the strength and symmetry of the fortress as it emerged from the morning glow. It wasn’t the scene I’d imagined, but it was better.

Photo by: Jordan Basten