Hunt Valley, Maryland September Sunrise

Hunt Valley Sunrise 9/8/24

For about a dozen years now sunrise photography season in Maryland began for me in the second week of September. There are a lot of factors involved in that, from temperature and weather conditions to the timing of the sunrise. The heat and clear morning skies of a Maryland summer teamed with a sunrise time before 6am made July and August unhospitable for me. Most of my favorite sunrise spots were 30-90 minutes away, which made for 4am wake up calls during the summer.

Hunt Valley April Sunrise 4/20/23

As September rolled around and sunrise moved past 7am, I would plan for my first sunrise shoot since spring. It became a tradition for me to start in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Twice a year in April and September, the morning sun would rise straight up this little valley area in the middle of Maryland’s horse country and create spectacular photo opportunities.

Hunt Valley Dawn Mists 9/11/12

The first time I stopped there back in 2012 was unplanned. My original plan was to find some place for sunrise at Loch Raven Reservoir, but I miss timed my sunrise arrival and pulled over on Tufton Avenue to try to salvage the morning. Thus began one of my favorite traditions.

Hunt Valley Dawn 9/11/12

I am sure there are plenty of places in the area where the sunrise can be viewed, but for me, I always stopped along the fairly busy commuter route from Reisterstown to Hunt Valley. I originally chose this place out of simple convenience. There are a couple of safe places where you can pull off the road and get out of your car for a few minutes of photography without fear of being run over by a sleepy commuter. Over many years of landscape photography, I have learned that surviving a photo shoot is the first key to a successful photo shoot.

First Light with the Horses of Hunt Valley 9/8/24

There are a lot of elements that make this place worth repeat visits every year. There are fences and trees and horses and fields and, oh yeah, the light. Besides the excellent position of the sunrise up the valley the September weather conditions factor into scene. At this time of year, morning temperatures and dew conditions are such that when the sun hits the valley floor it can create a ground fog effect that creates anything from a slight swirly mist in the grass to a full blown 30-foot-high fog bank. A built in natural light filter which changes by the minute. It can be quite exciting trying to capture it. I’ve been there where everything disappears in the mist for a few minutes and then reappears with a change in the breeze.

Dawn in the Pasture 9/28/14

So now, here we are in 2025 and the reason I am writing this blog today. This past June, my wife and I moved to Fernandina Beach, FL. I am missing my favorite Maryland horse pasture and my September tradition. I don’t expect sympathy, I now get to see spectacular sunrises nearly every day over beaches, rivers, marshes and so much more some of which are only 5 minutes from my front door.

Sunrays of the Forest 9/11/12

I am hoping that someone will read this blog and pick up the baton and catch a September sunrise in Hunt Valley. If you do, please let me know and share some pics of your experience. I hope you enjoy seeing a part of my collection of Hunt Valley Sunrises.