It’s 5:30 am on July 15th. The alarm sounds and I jump out of bed. Getting up early in Mallorca is surprisingly easy—it’s already 23 degrees, warm and inviting.

My camera gear is packed and ready. Today’s mission: capture the sunrise perfectly aligned with the Alcanada Lighthouse, as seen from Playa de Muro. PhotoPills has done its part, giving me the precise location and timing. Now it’s up to me, the camera, and the weather gods.

The forecast looks promising. It’s just a 15-minute drive to the beach, followed by a short 5-minute walk to my carefully scouted spot. As I arrive, I’m surprised by how busy the beach is—even at 6 am. A large group waits on the jetty, likely for a dolphin-watching cruise. A few early risers are lounging on sunbeds, hoping for a beautiful sunrise. And about 30 meters up the beach, another photographer is setting up with the same idea as me.

Once I have the tripod and camera in place, it's time to wait. The light is slowly creeping into the sky, casting a faint golden glow along the horizon—a good sign.

I’ve brought my Nikon Z8, paired with the 180–600mm zoom and a 1.4x teleconverter. From this distance—5.3 kilometers to the lighthouse—the island nearly fills the frame, though the lighthouse still appears small.

Everything is nearly set: f/11, ISO 64, 2-second timer, and a 9-shot burst. I’ll lock in the shutter speed at the last moment after checking the histogram.

Then it happens. A fiery sliver of sun peaks over the sea. The position looks perfect—just as planned. Slowly, the sun climbs, aligning directly behind the light atop the Alcanada Lighthouse. The island is in silhouette, the lighthouse framed in golden fire. I press the shutter. Two seconds… and the Z8 fires off a burst of nine frames.

I repeat the sequence several times as the sun marches steadily upward and eventually past the lighthouse. Within a few short minutes, it’s all over. The sun is too bright now—just a glowing white disc in the sky.

A quick review of the shots offers a spark of hope. The alignment looks good. Maybe, just maybe, one of these frames will be the one I envisioned.

That’s the magic of mornings like this—planning, patience, and the thrill of not knowing until you see the image.