Behind the Lens: Shooting a Mountain Sunrise at 4 AM (BTS Vlog)

About this vlog

In this behind-the-scenes vlog, I take you along on a freezing 4 AM hike up a steep mountain ridgeline to capture a misty valley sunrise. You'll see the raw, unedited struggles of setting up a tripod in 15-knot winds and how quickly the golden hour light changes in real-time.

Highlights

• 01:15 - The brutal 4 AM wakeup call and navigating the trail in total darkness.
• 03:45 - Battling high winds and locking down a stable tripod position on loose gravel.
• 05:02 - The magic window: Watching the sun break through the low-hanging valley mist.
• 06:30 - Side-by-side comparison of the raw footage versus the final edited photograph.

Gear & settings

• Camera: Sony A7R V
• Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
• Settings: ISO 100, f/11, bracketed exposures (1/4s to 1/30s)
• Key Accessories: Carbon fiber travel tripod, circular polarizer filter.

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