As 2022 comes to an end I have come to realize how quickly time has passed. When I look back at what this year has brought me, I realize the struggles that I encountered were a blessing in disguise. Whether it be projects falling through, bills piling up, or growing apart from people I used to hold close. These moments of struggle and perseverance really amplify those happy times where everything falls into place. This particular morning started with chaos. John, Connor and I had been traveling for a few weeks and at this point our exhaustion started to catch up with us. Our plans were to visit Lago di Braies at sunrise but we quickly realized we booked our airbnb a little too far away. 3 hours away to be exact. We decide we’ll bail on this accommodation and drive to the lake at 3am that night to catch the sunrise. My most significant memory of that night were the bouts of nausea I was fighting off as John was taking corners like a race car driver in an effort to get us there on time. I was quite literally hanging onto life in the backseat with my head hanging out the window begging for fresh air. Once we arrived I realized all that struggle was worth it. Seeing the stillness of that crystal blue water and the soft morning alpenglow paint the tips of the mountains made everything I had done up to that moment worth it. Being able to photograph these small fragments of placidity is a privilege I won't soon forget.