Colorado Sunset

My daughter's house in Conifer, Colorado has a tremendous view of Pike' s Peak and the Mountains to the west. I have stood on the deck hoping for the perfect sunset many times over the past year. Well, it happened while I was there for our grandson's first birthday in early November. I only had my Canon G12 with me, but in manual mode on small tripod I came away with this photograph. The sunset was one of the best I have seen.

The moral of the story is you should always have a camera with you, even if it is not practical to have your SLR.

Here is one more view a few minutes earlier looking south at Pike's Peak

Wow, what an incredible view for starters...and to get to see such a beautiful sunset must have been breathtaking. I think I like the pastel sky and layering in the second shot the best. But the vivid blue and orange in the first shot is great too. Pretty nice work for a point and shoot!

These are both beauties but I do like the structure and the vivid colors in the clouds in the first one Tom. And after 20+ years of going to Colorado I've come to the conclusion that there are no "bad" sunsets to be seen in Colorado!

Beautiful light, Tom. I like the warm / cool contrast in the first image a lot not to mention the epic color. If there is room to pull out a little detail from the shadows that might strengthen this image. I agree that the layers in the second image make this one strong as well.

Oh my goodness! I know I am blessed in this life, but they are doubly blessed! To be able to see that view each evening....wow! Beautiful sunset and so glad you were able to get the SHOT! I like the second one best even though the colors are awesome in the first one. But the second has such depth with the dark to light layers leading up to that pastel sky!

Tom,
I do like the depth of the second image. To have the peaks in the ridges and mountains lined up makes for a strong composition.
Those G12's are not bad little cameras. Any plans to get the G1X?

The second is my favorite also. I just got my wife a G12. Looks to be a good camera.

I really like the second also. It always amazes me how Pikes Peak is so prominant along the front range. I bet your daughter never gets tired of seeing that.

If we all had cameras with us all the time I bet there would be a lot more nice images on this forum to discuss.

Thanks for all the great comments. Brian,I took you suggestion and tried to bring out some detail in the shadows on the first image and at the same time controlling some distracting items as a result of this. Let me know if you think this helps the image.

I like the rework better, but I would still wonder if you could pull out the same detail in a print. I'm used to printing on canvas and Lexjet eSatin paper, but would be interested to know what others might think that use a different media.

Great light and sunset show.

Had not browsed the CS forum for a while glad I did. Like all three but the added work looks like it was worth the time. Happy to see a bit more action on your forum.