Last week my wife and I were up in Cambria, California, and I snuck out for what ended up being my final sunrise from the Green Valley Viewing Point lookout off CA-46. If you’ve done this long enough you know it’s always a crapshoot—sometimes the sky lights up and sometimes it doesn’t—but even with heavy wind and that desolate “I’m alone on a mountain” vibe, the views were getting more and more spectacular by the minute. I didn’t drag out a whole audio setup because I just wanted to be in the moment, so it’s a mix of GoPro audio and me sharing the scene as the sun starts hitting the hills. Gear-wise, I’m shooting on my Canon R50 (which I love, love, love) and I’m leaning hard into vintage glass—manual focus, character, and all. I talk through a few of the old lenses I’ve been playing with (FD breech-lock, Pentax, and a 35mm M42), why I buy used, and why I’m totally fine taking a $50–$300 chance on something with personality versus dropping $1,500 on new. I also touch on editing (none of this is AI generated), and how I keep myself from getting into a slump: I try new gear, get outside, and make it fun—because that’s the whole point.