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July Theme: Sunrises & Sunsets

Discussion

44 replies
Posted by Joshua Hardin on July 1, 2012 at 7:57 PM
Nature photographers are inextricably attracted to "golden" or "magic" hours. These are the first or last hours of sunlight in a day which provide us with pleasing diffuse, warm, low-angled lighting conditions. This month, post photos of your most memorable sunrises or sunsets. The sun itself may or may not be in the image: you can display landscape photos of alpenglow lighting a high-altitude environment, wildlife spotlighted by golden light or clouds glowing with the effect of the rising or setting sun. Show us what it was like to witness a magnificent sunrise or sunset with a camera!
Posted by Joshua Hardin on July 1, 2012 at 8:01 PM
One of the most amazing sunrises I ever witnessed was from Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park on a morning in 2010 when I happened to be there as a late spring thunderstorm was clearing. The colors in the clouds and glow on the peaks was unlike anything I've ever experienced before or since.
Posted by Dean Sauskojus on July 1, 2012 at 9:27 PM
The opposite of Joshua's image I had a pure blue sky day. It seems every time I visit Frazier Lake Basin here in Montana I end up with clear blue skies. Just tried to make the best of it.
Posted by Peter Coskun on July 1, 2012 at 9:42 PM
One from february that resulted in plenty of cactus needles puncturing my feet. One of the most colorful sunsets I've seen here this year.
Posted by Jack Garrett on July 1, 2012 at 9:47 PM
Dang, Joshua...that's one fantastic catch!
Posted by Erik Aagaard on July 1, 2012 at 10:40 PM
You realize how hard you're making it on yourself with this topic, right?! :smile:
Posted by Howard Cihak on July 2, 2012 at 3:46 AM
Sunset through fire smoke at Glacier N.P.,
Posted by Doug Beezley on July 2, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Sunrise at Bryce

Doug Beezley
Snellville, GA
Posted by Jim Bennett on July 2, 2012 at 11:41 PM
Mt. Evans summer sunrise last year. Of course, panorama photos are handicapped by the file restrictions. Here's a link to a larger version http://go-2.it/TMQ.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on July 3, 2012 at 1:42 PM
North Phoenix Mountain Preserve... I was leaving work and this crazy sunset formed out of seemingly nowhere. Yes, I got a little bold with saturation but not that much, the desert dust does some crazy things down here. I pulled over and rested my camera on my car door for stability, and autobracketed 3 shots, each two stops apart, and merged with HDR, finished off with the usual in PS. 5D2, 70-200mm @200mm. The hugely better IS in the version II lens was beyond helpful here!



(edited because I have the typing skills of a Western Banded Gecko)
Posted by Michael Hackett on July 3, 2012 at 4:28 PM
Heavy smoke along the front range of Colorado. I shot this image the day after the Waldo Canyon fire started.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on July 3, 2012 at 4:36 PM
Wow! It's like another planet! :toast:
Posted by Pam Colander on July 4, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Sun goes down behind a cottonwood.
Posted by Pam Colander on July 4, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Dunes tree at sunset.
Posted by Pam Colander on July 4, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Twilight at GotGs.
Posted by Kane Engelbert on July 4, 2012 at 4:53 PM
"The Landmark"

The Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak from the Snowmass Lake area. Taken from UN12,902 last week.

Posted by Pam Colander on July 6, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Not sure if this place has a name but I use to drive by it everyday on my way to work in Littleton, Co. Taken at sunset.
Posted by Bob Miller on July 6, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Superstition Mountains from Lost Dutchman State Park.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on July 7, 2012 at 12:26 AM
You realize how hard you're making it on yourself with this topic, right?!


Oh yea. Keep 'em coming people. Let's see if we can get at least 100 replies on this topic! :smile:
Posted by Morris McClung on July 7, 2012 at 4:00 PM
Some great images so far. Here's one from Castlewood Canyon in 2009.
Posted by Pam Colander on July 10, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Ship Rock, NM
Posted by Mark Hespenheide on July 11, 2012 at 1:14 AM
Jim, that's a terrific panorama from Evans.
Posted by Kane Engelbert on July 11, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Pam, love that shot!
Posted by Heather Nilson on July 11, 2012 at 11:46 PM
Beautiful shots here. I saw a nice sunrise during my first trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison a few weeks ago.
Posted by Michael Hackett on July 12, 2012 at 8:23 PM
A great collection of images so far! This was taken one early morning on the Flat Tops last July.
Posted by Mark Hespenheide on July 13, 2012 at 2:27 AM
I'm about to take off into the desert, hoping for storm light :wink:. Here are two earlier attempts; both are stitched panoramas. [1] Sunrise rays over the Grand Canyon, 2011.
Posted by Mark Hespenheide on July 13, 2012 at 2:29 AM
[2] Clearing storm at sunset, Sedona, 2009.
Posted by Richard Olsen on July 13, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Mitten sunrise, Monument Valley
Posted by John Mumaw on July 15, 2012 at 11:19 PM
'Sunrise at the Rock Garden'
Posted by Jon LaBass on July 16, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Sunset in Niwot, CO a couple of years ago.
Posted by Bill Bean on July 16, 2012 at 11:39 PM
An amazing collection of images as usual. I've posted the actual sunrise version of this image but this one is the alpenglow variety. Shot about 15 minutes before the sun hit the top of the Tetons.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on July 18, 2012 at 10:59 AM
San Francisco Peaks Inferno
Posted by Amy Lindsey on July 19, 2012 at 11:35 PM
Ok Doug, you get my vote!! GORGEOUS!
Posted by Peter Coskun on July 21, 2012 at 2:57 AM
One I just posted on the main gallery. Light on the mountains doesn't get any better.
Posted by Soubhik Patranabis on July 22, 2012 at 3:15 AM
The amazing sunrise at Dream lake last year - a morning that I will never forget ..
Posted by Jack Brauer on July 24, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Here's a sunset from above Ouray!
Posted by Morris McClung on July 25, 2012 at 6:43 PM
Yeah, Jack, I remember this one, or at least one very similar. All you people rockin' this sunset thang!! :toast:
Posted by Randy Van Winkle on July 27, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Sunrise over Blue Lakes Pass a couple of weeks ago
Posted by Paul DeCesare on July 27, 2012 at 5:36 PM
Camping trip at Dogtown Reservoir Near Williams, AZ last week... the sky came together quickly and the light lasted only a few minutes. Water was super low, there's usually 6 feet of water where I was standing.

Seven exposures all at f/14, 16-35mm lens set at 20mm, full frame.
Posted by Guy Schmickle on July 28, 2012 at 9:48 PM
Sunset sky over Fire Wave at Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park. Some pretty incredible images here!!!
Posted by Kane Engelbert on July 29, 2012 at 7:26 PM
Guy, that's another stunning photo from you. Love the Cyan and Magenta striping.

Here's one from the Bisti Badlands, New Mexico.
Posted by Mark Hespenheide on July 31, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Kane, that's a terrific shot from Bisti. Very nice touch on the balance of exposure in the sky and foreground, and a nice delicacy on the foreground.

Just to sneak one in under the wire: Bryce, three days ago. Sunset. Unreal colors as a setting sun backlit the rain clouds passing through. Panos never show up well in these threads, but this is a 14-image stich. Sadly the tones in the amphitheater look a lot better in a large version...

Wonderful work, everyone. These threads never fail to make me want to get out more... :smile:
Posted by Erik Aagaard on July 31, 2012 at 10:49 PM
Here's one taken at dawn on the way up to Blue Lakes Pass last autumn.
Posted by Erik Aagaard on July 31, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Here's one taken from the meadow below Owl Creek Pass a few years ago.
Posted by Jack Garrett on August 1, 2012 at 1:10 AM
Thread is closed. Thanks for all your greater submissions this month! Stay tuned for the cover shot and next months topic.