"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
As a photographer, I often find myself jumping around spot to spot, trying to pack as much in whenever I can find opportunities to explore and create, regardless of whichever city I am in; however, sunrises and sunsets are really cherished moments as I get to truly appreciate whatever is in front of me in its entirety and for longer extended periods of time. Watching a scene vibrantly change from night to day or day to night is a great thrill and a remarkable sight to take in, not only from the natural beauty of the sunlight and colours in the sky but also the way artificial lighting plays out and the people within a scene interact with the surrounding environment.
On this evening, after a full day of photographing along Bangkok's temples, I spent over an hour standing and enjoying the sunset across the river from Wat Arun. I had set up my camera to take numerous long exposures during the time, allowing me to really take a step back, pop in my earphones, turn on my classical soundtracks playlist and enjoy the sight without having to crouch behind the lens throughout. Tourists and locals alike flocked nearby to where I was standing to grab their own sunset shots and selfies with the incredible landmark but quickly left right after. As I watched the crowd kept turning over, I had this realisation of how lucky I was to have the time to not rush from one moment to the next. To stand there and really let the moment breathe and fully surrender myself to it.
