SUNSETS AND SUNRISES 

What's not to like about sunsets and sunrises, right? We get awesome colors, drama, and even mood. Now, we do have to get up extremely early for those once-in-a-lifetime early moments, but it's worth it!  

I don't necessarily have to include the sun itself setting. Sometimes I prefer those subtle tones and hues that invoke moods of peace, tranquility, and even spirituality. They elicit ethereal emotions.

The colors and high-contrast lighting do pose challenges. Luckily, there are a few solutions to those issues. One of those solutions is HDR, or the combining of 3-7 images taken at different exposures and combining them in HDR software. I try my best not to rely on HDR, but when I do need it, my goal is for my images not to look "HDRed." None of the examples I will share are HDR-created. 

Another solution I use is to use my exposure compensation dial to get the range of lights and shadows to a point that diminishes the need for HDR and just do some fine-tuning with my photo editing software. Yet another technique I use is timing, i.e., study the scene and wait to "click" when the dynamic range is the scene is roughly within 8-10 stops. Obviously, that is based on an estimated sense of when that moment is right. But, with plenty of practice and trial-and-error, that has become an easier task.      

With that introduction, let me share some of my sunsets and sunrises.

I saw this fisherman in White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas relaxing and enjoying his early morning fishing. The atmospheric conditions that day were such that the sun was not "blown out." And, yes, there are shadows here and there that would bother HDR enthusiasts. But I like shadows in some images. They create interest, mystery, and mood. Without them, this image would be a documentation of a man fishing. Instead, the lighting translates that feeling of fishing in an early quiet, calm morning. 

There was a lot of new freeway construction happening around the city. One day I noticed a particular part of the construction. It included the construction of a second-level curved overpass. For me, I saw curves, lines, and geometry. My imagination saw early morning vibrant colors. That was it! I had a plan. I went to that spot one early morning and saw what I envisioned. I put on my FLD filter to enhance the colors. FLD filters were used during film days to correct for White Balance when shooting indoors, without flash, in fluorescent-lit venues.

Photography requires skill, planning, and a little luck. I had planned the timing of this shot and I had the skills. But, as luck would have it, as I set up my equipment for the shot, I noticed two men climbing the scaffolding. I decided to wait until they got to the top, to see what would happen. They walked along the construction when one of the guys got down on his knees to inspect something. Click! 

One early morning, I drove along a two-lane highway toward southern Missouri in search of historic grist mills. As I drove over a large hill, I noticed the sun coming up over a foggy valley. I quickly stopped, turned around, and parked at a safe spot. I hiked to the top of the hill and was met with an awesome sight! I felt so calm and tranquil, but I wasn't capturing what I felt. I changed my White Balance to Fluorescent to see if it would give me the colors that matched my feelings. Voila!

I set my f/stop to f/25, which gave me that sunburst.  

Whenever I walk or hike with my camera, I periodically turn around to see how things look behind me. Such was the case one early morning as I walked along a dry riverbed looking for a good morning shot of downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Wow--I'm glad I did. I put on my FLD filter and got this spiritual-looking image.

Well, since I'm on the subject of FLD filters, I'll throw in one more. This time, I got my shot before I could see the sun above the horizon. Again, with an FLD filter, I got this soothing quiet image of the Red River in far north Texas near the Oklahoma border. I loved the early morning reflections. The lack of HDR creates images with little detail. I like that. Shadows, and a lack of details, creates interest and curiosity, and also adds mood to my images.   

In quaint Eureka Springs, Arkansas, there is a giant statue of Jesus. It is called "Christ of the Ozarks." It is claimed to be the third tallest in the world, at 65' 5.5." I photographed it from behind at sunset because I liked the silhouette effect.

This is a small canyon, Eldorado Canyon, near Boulder, Colorado. I got up early to see how it would look. I was lucky that morning. The clouds really enhanced the final image, giving it a mystical glow and added drama to the sky.

This is a different kind of sunset. I was at the Colorado Railroad Museum in the late evening, just before they closed. Photographing railroad cars, equipment, and hay at sunset took on a different appeal.

So, as you can see, there are a lot of different subjects and scenarios that lend themselves well to sunset and sunrise images. Don't limit yourself. Get up early, or stick around until sunset, and experiment with exposure settings. And don't forget to use your exposure compensation dial.

Have fun. E-mail me a couple of your favorites! 

Eli Vega, Photo Artist

www.elivega.net 

vegaphotoart@gmail.com