By Trish Minogue Collins

Whether you’re viewing it from up close, or from across the Great South Bay, the Fire Island Lighthouse is one of the most beautiful landmarks on Long Island.

What could be better than combining it with the beauty of a sunrise?

As the seasons change and the Earth tilts, we get a few opportunities each year to catch sunrise near the lighthouse from Captree State Park, and that was my mission this morning.

A cloud bank on the horizon had me worried at first, but I soon saw that glow on the horizon that promised the sun would appear, however briefly.

I ran down the beach to line up the sun a bit better with the lighthouse.

The color in the clouds combined with the light on the Great South Bay was so beautiful!

The sun came and went very quickly, but the memory of that glow behind the Fire Island Lighthouse has kept me warm all day!