There’s a special kind of magic in witnessing a sunrise from the sky. This photo, taken from a plane window as it ascended from the Albuquerque Sunport, captures a fleeting, ethereal moment—a perfect blend of the Earth’s rugged landscape and the soft glow of a new day.

As the plane lifted off the tarmac, the Sandia Mountains faded into the distance, silhouetted against a sky awash in pastel hues of lavender and gold. The vast expanse of New Mexico’s desert stretched endlessly below, its ochre and rust tones deepened by the early morning light. It’s a scene that feels both vast and intimate—a quiet reminder of the beauty we so often overlook in our rush to reach the next destination.

For me, this moment was more than just a photo opportunity. It was a pause—a deep breath before the chaos of travel. Watching the world awaken from the skies offered a serene clarity, a chance to reflect on the journeys behind and those ahead.

Next time you find yourself taking off from Albuquerque at dawn, take a moment to press your face to the window. Watch the world unfold beneath you. It’s a view that stays with you, a reminder of just how small we are and how vast and beautiful the world can be.

Once we were up and about an hour into the flight to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport it was clouds for as far as the eye could see.