Set the alarm clock for 5:15 am

How to use the online alarm clock

As you hand over the job of loading the sunrise shoot equipment, set the 5:15 am alarm so the next person knows exactly when to take over. That leaves a clear working window before 6:00 am for checking cases, moving tripods and confirming that nothing has been left behind. A named alarm also prevents the handover time from being mistaken for the departure time.

For this equipment handover, check the phone’s silent settings before relying on the alarm: some browsers may play no audible signal when sound is muted, even though the alarm appears on screen. Keep the volume high enough to hear from where the cases are being loaded, and use a vibration setting if the phone supports it. Because the alert depends on an active browser session, it cannot warn the person loading the equipment after the page is dismissed or the phone has gone to sleep.

Before the replacement begins loading, place a small torch beside the cases and switch it on briefly to check its beam. At 5:15 am, street lighting or a vehicle’s interior lamp can create deep shadows around dark bags, loose cables and unmarked steps. Facing the torch towards the ground, rather than towards anyone’s eyes, makes labels and hazards easier to spot while preserving the subdued light needed for the approaching sunrise shoot.