Kenai River

Alaska

I didn’t set out expecting anything dramatic — just a quiet evening floating on the Kenai River with my camera, hoping the Alaskan summer light might surprise me.

It was one of those strange northern nights where the sun doesn’t really set. It just... hovers. I’d heard about this moment — where the sun dips behind the trees and everything turns gold for a few minutes — and I was curious if I could catch it.

At first, nothing much happened. The sky stayed flat, the light stayed meh, and I started thinking maybe I was chasing a myth. My fingers were getting cold, and the mosquitos were definitely not helping morale. I almost packed up.

And then — just as I was about to call it — the trees lit up. The river shimmered. The light softened into this perfect golden haze that didn’t quite feel like sunset or sunrise, just something in between. I raised my camera and took the shot.

This is the very first photo I ever printed. It means a lot to me — not because it’s flashy or dramatic, but because it reminds me why I love photography:

Sometimes, it’s just about being still long enough for the moment to find you.

I hope it brings that same calm, golden feeling into your space.