Moody Blue

Nothing like a sunset to end a hectic week.

It's Over

The waning light of summer
Vivid colors of autumn
Summer's last sunset

Sadly, this is the first day of autumn; summer is officially over. As the summer sun sets, we anticipate a glorious season of autumnal colors. Then that white crap falls from the sky.

White Balacing

Sunset over the Mississippi River

Below are the differences in a few of the White Balance Settings.
Choosing a different white balance setting can make striking results. These four photos were taken at the same settings and post processed in the same way. The only difference was the white balance setting on the camera.

White Balance: Daylight

White Balance: Shade

White balance: Tungsten

White Balance: Fluorescent

Sunset Stripes

A dash of orange between the blues.
Sunsets are natures fireworks. And no two are alike.
-
Exposure: 15 sec (15)
Aperture: f/9
Focal Length: 44 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Silhouette Sunsets

Autumn approaches, the angle of the sun dips low.

The sky brightens, colors from paiter's palette flow.

Daylight falters, winter on the horizon looms.

Fade to darkenss, black and white consumes.

Change looms on the horizon.

With Polarizing filter

Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 33 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

The outcome is always the same.

With Polarizing filter
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 41 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Salmon Horizons

Lake Vermilion sunset

Shortly after sunset as the stars begin to show; this is the perfect time to capture some evening photos. But the window of opportunity is short.
Exposure: 25 sec (25)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

A Walkabout

Last night, my neighbor and I went on a quick photo walkabout. On my way to pick him up, our other neighbors were getting ready to go for an evening bike ride. They explained to me about the sunset over the Mississippi River at the Coon Rapids Dam.

We changed up our photo walkabout and headed for the dam. We caught the tail end of the sunset. Below is my result. Afterward, I wanted an evening image of our pedestrian bridge lit up for the evening. Photo walkabouts are quite fun with fellow hobbyist photographers. A good chance to share our art, get out and enjoy our city outdoors and improve our photography skills. The best part is the camaraderie of sharing a pleasant evening.

Mississippi River Sunset

Champlin's Pedestrian Bridge linking the east side of town to the west side of town across highway 169.

Orange Glow

Yet another sunset from Lake Vermilion, this viewpoint has been seen often. Taken July 3rd, the day before our Independence Day celebration. Nature provides the best light show that fireworks can not compete with.

In the center, behind the island, we see a glimpse of red. That red is actually where the sun has just set behind the the distant shore approximately 2.8 miles ( 4.5km) away.

Gold Coast

As the sun sets on Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota.
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Ledgerock

From the rocky shore of Lake Vermilion.
Yes, this is another HDR photo. I need the practice at this type of photography. I will spare you the intricate details or tutorials. Other fellow photographers and bloggers have excellent tutorials you can search out. HDR can be taken to two extremes; over saturated and tonemapped for a surreal cartoonish look, or processed in a realistic manner.
There is a place for HDR photography when there is a high range between the dark and bright areas in the subject you wish to shoot. Such as this photo. No, its not a great composition or photo, but a good example of bright and dark. The camera senses the brights skyline, but the rocky foreground will become a black blob shadow.

I wanted to show the rocky shoreline with the cracks and crevices in the rock against the bright pre-sunset lakeside sky. I took 3 photos, information shown below, and merged them into one image. That's where the tonemapping fun begins with Photomatix to bring out the details. But there is a fine line to watch for, otherwise you will cross over into the cartoonish look seen in this Arbys photo post.
I do find it fun to create a cartoonish image, I prefer the realistic look that shows more detail that would be lost to the shadows.

Three photos taken at:

Tv( Shutter Speed ): 1/13 - Autoexposure Bracketing 0

Tv( Shutter Speed ): 1/50 - Autoexposure Bracketing -2

Tv( Shutter Speed ): 0.3 - Autoexposure Bracketing +2

Av( Aperture Value ): f11.0

ISO Speed: 100 Focal Length: 17.0 mm

White Balance Mode: Daylight

HDR merged into one image via Photomatix

Flashback to July 2007

Sunset Trolling

Thinking about warmer weather. This has been a long winter; my patience has been worn thin. One month from now will be our fishing season opener. I am anxious. Anxious to get my boat out from the long 6 months of storage. Anxious to troll the reefs of Big Bay. Anxious for the warmth of the evening sunset heading home.

Pink Sky in Morning...

...Commuter take warning! Or something on that order as the saying goes. Probably the last morning of sunlight on the morning commute.

Right on schedule, traffic congestion due to two traffic accidents miles ahead. A brand new day, yet so similar to the past...except for this sunrise!

Good Morning!

Goede Ochtend

Bonjour

Guten Morgen

καλημέρα

Buon giorno

おはよう

좋은 아침

Bom dia

хорошее утро

Buenos días

Hyvää huomenta

Early morning on my way to work I go. So far so good, traffic is quite light. It's gonna' be a great day! Have a good day everybody!

(Translations brought to you by AltaVista-Babel Fish Translation)

Tequila Sunrise

"Its another tequila sunrise,this old world

Still looks the same,

Another frame, mm..."

Just another work day, same routine as usual. Come into the office, sit in my chair and power up the PC; wait for the log in and the inevitable seven emails that await me.

The office is unusually quiet, not a sound, nobody discussing the previous evening's events. Surprise, eight emails. It is time to get a cup of coffee before answering the emails.

Not sure why, but I decided to bring my camera to the breakroom. Glad I did, after enjoying the first sip, I noticed the spectacular sunrise out our breakroom windows.

I power-gnaushed down that mug of coffee, and another while enjoying the sunrise. Email will have to wait. What a great start to the day! Those eight emails didn't seem so important anymore after witnessing this Tequila Sunrise. I ignored them, only to answer them at 10:30.

Some days you need to treat yourself; this old world, things are the same, a different frame.

Vermilion Sunset

Sunset over Lake Vermilion. Beautiful time of evening; just as the sun is setting. The end to the fishing day, a flurry of fishermen heading home. I sure hope they had good luck. Good night!