The first dawn of the new year was a little milestone. I couldn't resist heading outside with my camera after rolling out of bed; throwing on a coat and yanking on a pair of boots... creeping around in the low morning light to see what the year was offering up. It was cold in the frost, a light crispy edge to every surface but undeniable nevertheless. The birds sang a gentle song and broke the silence of the uninhabited hour. I wonder whether I was alone in bearing witness to the sunrise that morning with the pigeons and blackbirds.