Have you ever planned a simple outing, only to find yourself stumbling into something completely unexpected? That’s exactly what happened to me one early morning at Meqtouaa Beach. My goal was straightforward: capture the serene beauty of the sunrise. But what unfolded was something that would stay with me forever—a surprise encounter with not one, but two curious foxes. It was a moment that reminded me of the unpredictable magic of nature.
Meqtouaa Beach is the kind of hidden spot that feels like it’s just yours. Nestled away from the crowds, it’s a tranquil escape, only a short walk from my house. This beach has a calming effect on anyone who visits—especially in the early morning hours when the world is still quiet. the waves gently lap the shore, and there’s an air of stillness that makes it an ideal place to reflect and take photos.
While I was on the road to the beach just before sunrise, a sudden rustling sound caught my attention. Expecting to see a bird or maybe a stray dog, I turned and was surprised to spot two foxes emerging from the tall grass near the beach’s edge. My heart skipped a beat—foxes! In all my time at Meqtouaa Beach, I had never seen them this close.
They were alert, their bright eyes scanning the area, but they weren’t frightened. Instead, they seemed more curious than anything else. Their presence felt almost magical—here I was, in the midst of trying to photograph the beauty of nature, and nature itself had decided to join the picture.
The two foxes didn’t run away as I might have expected. They approached cautiously, pausing to sniff the air and check out the scene. One of them, a little braver, wandered closer to me, only a few feet away. I froze, not wanting to scare them off, and simply watched in awe. The other fox, a bit shyer, stayed at a distance, keeping an eye on me while exploring the area.
The way they moved was mesmerizing—graceful, almost like they were dancing in time with the wind. It was as though they didn’t see me as a threat at all. They were just going about their day, perhaps as surprised to see me as I was to see them.
As the foxes gradually disappeared among the rocks, I couldn’t help but reflect on how special the experience was. Here I had been, planning to photograph a beautiful sunrise, and yet the real beauty of the moment came from the unexpected encounter with the foxes. It was a reminder that sometimes the best things in life are the ones you can’t plan for.
It also made me realize how important it is to be present in the moment. I had gone to the beach with one intention, but I was open enough to appreciate something completely different. The foxes, the rising sun, the quiet of the beach—everything blended together to create a memory that was far more meaningful than any photograph could capture.
After the foxes wandered off, I took a moment to focus on the sunrise once again. The sky had fully lightened by then, and the early morning mist was rising from the water. The soft golden light bathed everything in a warm glow, and I was able to snap a few final shots of the tranquil scene.
In the end, the photographs I took of the sunrise didn’t turn out quite the way I had expected, but the unexpected addition of the foxes made them even more special. The animals became a part of the larger landscape, blending into the beauty of the beach and the rising sun.
This experience taught me a few valuable lessons. First, it reminded me to be open to the unexpected. Often, the best moments in life happen when we least expect them. Second, it taught me the importance of patience. In photography, as in life, things don’t always happen on our timeline. But with a little persistence, you can capture the magic that’s unfolding right in front of you.
Looking back, that morning at Meqtouaa Beach was about so much more than photographing the sunrise. It was a reminder to stay open to the unexpected, to appreciate the wild beauty around us, and to be patient in both photography and life. The foxes that appeared out of nowhere will always be a part of my memory of that morning—and a reminder of the magic that can happen when you least expect it.
