Pre-dawn light over Malibu Canyon

I woke up early with the goal of capturing sunrise. I did the obvious thing and drove up a mountain. I then did the non-obvious thing and went for a multi-mile hike.

Bare branches against a pink horizon A ridge catching the first light of the day

The morning light was gorgeous. Purple, pink, yellow, and orange hues all made the hike even more special.

Golden light spilling across the hills The sun clearing the ridgeline Long rays across the canyons Sunrise through the brush

Winter in the Santa Monica Mountains is magical.

Sandstone outcroppings above the Pacific The lookout tower on the ridge

The trail started off paved, then moved to a dirt road, and eventually into something that was a little more intense.

The dirt road stretch Where the road narrows to singletrack The rocky, washed-out climb

Shot with the Leica Q2.