Manly Marina, Brisbane, Queensland – Australia

A sunrise by the water is an unforgettable experience. Watching the world go from a somber palette of greys, slates, and irons to a living oil painting exploding with color has a way of putting things into perspective. You’re reminded that no matter what’s going on in your life or elsewhere in the world, there’s always indescribable beauty to be witnessed as well if you know where (and when) to look for it.

Fairy Floss depicts Brisbane’s own Manly Marina at sunrise on a beautifully still autumn day. The many boats, each a peculiar character of its own, stood watch with me as the sun bloomed over the horizon. The sky quietly erupted into a patchwork of gorgeous cotton candy colors – sugary rose, candied violet, and the most beautiful powdered yellow. The still waters serenely reflected the beauty overhead as the masts of the boats reached upward toward the skies, greeting the sun in their own special way.