Click-a-Pic Challenge #4 "Rising in the east, setting in the west"

[shutterspeed]

Sunrises & Sunsets paint the sky with brilliant colors, and create a picture that begs to be photographed. For our next challenge I want everyone to photograph a sunrise or a sunset. For some of you this may mean getting up a little earlier or staying awake a little longer! :)

Some things to keep in mind for this challenge:
1.Don't put the horizon in the middle of the frame, instead crop the photo so that the sky dominates.
2.Use your camera's settings. Set it on sunset mode (works for sunrise too). This will insure that you'll get the optimal settings for the occasion.
3.Add some depth to your photo by placing a silhouette (people, animals, trees, sailboats, city skyline, etc) in the foreground. You can achieve a silhouette by turning off the flash and focusing your camera on the brightest part of the sky then shooting the picture so the foreground is under exposed.
4.Take a few test shots, adjust your settings accordingly to achieve different results.
5.Allow for at least 30 minutes of shoot time, because the colors in the sky will change as the sun goes down or comes up. (Check the weather report to find out sunrise & sunset times for your area)
6.Use a tripod if it's dark to minimize camera shake and blurry photos.

If you have any questions please feel free to post them or email me. I'm here to help.

You have from*Friday July 17th*to*Thursday July 23rd*to shoot your photos for this theme. Please submit only photos taken during that time frame. Below are some examples to get the creative juices flowing. Good luck and I look forward to seeing everyones photos!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1197/532545928_045dd4650e.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/94/249912961_424c8fcb8b.jpg
**this photo was taken with a point & shoot camera!** (you don't have to have a fancy camera to get a good photo)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1118/532548324_3e100413af.jpg

(i wanted to get some shots with people in the foreground silhouetted, but alas, i ran out of time!)

REMEMBER:
- You may post up to 2 photos per challenge.
- Post-processing and use of actions ARE ALLOWED.
- Photos must be taken by you during the challenge week.
- Photos must be posted in the *new* PHOTOGRAPHY gallery & in this thread.
- PLEASE SIZE PICS to no larger than 600px WIDE and/or TALL.*
- Please number or title your photographs for recognition.

[nina81]

This definetely is a challenge!!! Looking forward to doing it!!!!

[Scrappie Irene]

This one is also fun! But, it must stop raining here.

[MissMint]

OOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! This is a good one - a real technical challenge this time.
I've never tried to shot a sunset so I can't WAIT to try!!! ;)

Great challenge Sarah.

*Oh and please feel welcome to post more examples (if you do get a chance to get one with people) over the week. We can never have too much inspiration!*

[Keela]

I am getting up earlier than normal tomorrow...let's see if I can get a shot!:smug:

[glumirk]

oooh....wishing I still lived in AZ! I used to go stand on top of a parking garage to take pictures of the beautiful sunsets! I LOVE :loveshower::heartu: sunrise and sunset pictures!

I better figure out what time the sun sets here, and find a place besides the freeway that I can see the horizon....

(we need a chin scratching smiley...)

This challenge will be good for me.

[nina81]

Sometimes the kids make me wake up a bit earlier...so I got my chance for this picture of the sunrise...it´s a bit dark but I love the colors!
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6546

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8215/sunrisef.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/sunrisef.jpg/)

And this is how the sunset looks from our garden
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6547&ppuser=2013

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/489/sunsetr.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/sunsetr.jpg/)

Yeah I made it in time:yes:

[Scrappie Irene]

Wonderful Nina! Especially the first.
Here it's raining almost every night and early morning. The sun is shining now. Hope it stays dry during the night.

[shutterspeed]

:yay: oohhh entries!! Nina the colors are fantastic!! sooo pretty!

[MissMint]

oooh NINA!!!

I know I can't see sh*t from where I am...have to hunt for the horizon!

[AlliJ2008]

I am going to try tonight to get the sunset. Yesterday was a long day with my g-ma & by the time I got my son to bed the sun had set. I did find a place where I want to try to get some good shots though that is right around the corner from my mom's house. Cross your fingers for tonight!

[originalcher1]

THis sucks, I am looking at the most gorgeous sunsets on the Oregon coast right now and have no way to upload them to the gallery- dagnabit!:rant:

[MissMint]

No camera??

[audscraps]

Im so bummed! We just DO NOT get good sunsets! :(

Around here it's dusk... and then dark. LOL. I think it's because there's small mountains (the hill as us locals call it) that separates us from the coast, where you get real pretty beach sunsets. Even though it's only 20 minutes away I dont think we are going to be making it over to the beach in time for the challenge.

I AM inspired though!

[originalcher1]

No camera??
I have the camera but no usb cable, I am going to try and take a photo with my blackberry and load that up to the gallery- the sunsets are so gorgeous here on the coast {sigh}

[Scrappie Irene]

Where are the beautiful sunsets? Not here :noidea:.
Can we cheat and use an older photo??? Or is that a :noway: for an answer?

[glumirk]

Where are the beautiful sunsets? Not here :noidea:.
Can we cheat and use an older photo??? Or is that a :noway: for an answer?
haha! I totally agree! Last night it was POURING. Hopefully it'll clear up tonight so we can take a drive around and find a place where we can see the sunset unobstructed by the beautiful trees. So far, completely overcast, like it has been since Friday. :waiting:

[shutterspeed]

i keep hearing everyone say that they don't have pretty sunsets/sunrises in their area. i doubt that. believe me, back woods east texas isn't the most picturesque place on earth. don't wait around for a perfect shot...the whole purpose of these challenges is for everyone to practice using their cameras & hone their photo skills. :)

i took this photo one evening after they'd done a control burn outside the city several months ago.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3306244251_e6db01f825.jpg
in terms of composition it's not perfect but it captured the colors in the sky. our house is completely surrounded by pine trees, so unless i'm out & about during sunset/sunrise hours this is what i see. is it the best sunset photo ever...no. but i took it just to see what it would turn out like.

i challenge everyone to do the same! :)

[Scrappie Irene]

Here it's still raining.

[glumirk]

Woohoo! The rain cleared up just an hour before sunset last night. I drove around town looking for vantage points where I could see the sunset, and finally ended up in the Target parking lot (Target is randomly built up on a hill here). It was beautiful! Usually all of the colors of the sunset are obscured by the trees so I didn't even know that such colors were available!

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/IMG_1803_copy.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6566)

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/IMG_1721_copy.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6567)


(http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6565)

[AlliJ2008]

Megan-love how you got those in the Target parking lot! :teehee: Great shots!

[audscraps]

we really dont get sunsets though i swear........ LOL. we have a small range of mountains blocking it. to get a photo i would have to drive up or take a drive over to the coast and that's just not going to happen tonight cause...... im pregnant. and tired. and i have to cook dinner. LOL

soooooooo lame i know! maybe we'll go to the coast this weekend and ill get the most awesomest picture ever. just watch, you'll see! :smug:

[moomories]

the photos posted are very beautiful and i agree shutter ANY sunset is beautiful, i find that sometimes what i see with my eyes or even thru ther lense is oftne not how i see it once its developed (uploaded lol/printed) often its not till afteri see thinsg true beauty

i didnt have time to participate this week unfortunelty

TFS every1

[MissMint]

Megan those are AWESOME!!!!! I love how the sun is beaming on that second one.

I also wanted to play but can't see the sunset from my house - too many buildings so I would have had to get in the car and drive around and sadly I didn't have too much time this week but I WILL get the BEST sunset shot next week when I'm on VAYCAY!

[shutterspeed]

it's nice to see a few more entries! :) lovely job everyone! next time i'll do better to pick a challenge that's not so .... limiting....hopefully! :D i guess picking a subject that only happens twice a day is difficult. :teehee: oops!

can't wait to mull over the entries and see what's what...

everyone ready for a new challenge? :smug:

[shutterspeed]

i admit, it was a little easier picking a "winner" with so few enteries...however they were all good.

but i'd like to CONGRATULATE.... :cheer:

Glumirk as this week's winner with her entry of "Sunset"
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/IMG_1803_copy.jpg
the sky was the dominant factor in the photo...and it was beautiful!



Honorable Mentions:
Nina81 "Sunrise"
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/sunrise_.jpg
the bold colors of the sunrise mixed with the silhouette of the tree was a nice contrast.

EricaW "Sunset #2"
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/IMGP1685.jpg
this moody, dark sunset had the feel of an abstract art piece!

Thanks ladies for playing along! :loveshower:

[glumirk]

Woohoo! Thanks! I'm glad I drove to Target! :smug:

[shutterspeed]

Woohoo! Thanks! I'm glad I drove to Target! :smug:
sometimes great photos happen in the most unlikely of places!! :) great job!

[KirstieGai]

better late than never LOL!
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/sunrise.jpg

[MissMint]

Congrats everyone!!! And bravo Glumirk!!
Love the colors in your pic Kirstie!

[originalcher1]

So I had no luck this week getting my photos up to the website :)
Sunsets are my fav thing to photograph- my husband groans when he sees a sunset as he knows I will be lost in it for a while!
I had to post my 2 fav sunset photos anyway- so here they be.
The good news was that I took a lot of photos on Friday for week 5 and will be able to get those posted for sure- yahoo :yay:
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/data/506/thumbs/IMG_0800.jpg (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6588)