I love the quiet of the beach before dawn. Before the sun rises, there are no throngs of people, no yelling, and the beach is washed clean by the high tide overnight.

One of my first blog posts was about Ballito! (Beware, there’s a few wonky horizon lines in those photographs.) It’s been a long time since I’ve visited, and to go back for a family gathering was nice. Dad and I kept the early mornings to ourselves, heading out just before the light to photograph the dawn, or the resident Woolly-necked Storks that patrolled the beach. I took to swimming in the warm sea just as the sun rose at 6:30am. It’s the best way to start the day!