The sun has barely risen this morning, when I am already up and off to a photo session on the beautiful island of Santorini. Greece. The weather forecast is rain, and the taxi driver who picks me up from my hotel also says the weather will be bad today. Looking out of the car window as we pass the stunning views of the caldera from Fira to Oia though, I can only detect blue skies – it is going to be a glorious day!

Last week I got a call from a dutch woman, Ellen Honert, a jazz singer and songwriter. She is visiting Santorini for a vacation and wants to use the opportunity to take photo’s for the cover of her new CD.

Upon my arrival in Oia, she is already waiting for me – she also got up with the first rays of light. Ellen has a CD out, “Breath of the Soul”, a great album that was recorded in California, where she lived and worked for 7 years. Now she has recently finished her second album, and it is for this one we are doing the photo session today.

We slowly start our climb through narrow streets into the picturesque old town of Oia. Only followed by a sleepy dog at this hour, the town is rarely quiet – serene silence before tourists will overtake the streets. It is no surprise it gets busy during the day and evening here- the views and sunsets are so incredible, that they can put poets out of work!

But at this early hour there is plenty of opportunity for us to get to work. We start with close-ups and as the sun moves up higher into the skies I make photos from further away.