Wyandotte, MI sunrise
The key to the best sunrise and sunset pictures is 2 things that need to come together...Time and location. OK, those are the key to all great non-studio shots. The key for these shots are truly T&L this time. You have to be there...on set...on time...at sunrise or sunset. It is a must to make it work.
Sunrise on Elbow Lake
Prescott, MI
The north tip of Grosse Ile MI from BASF park
Sunrise, Wyandotte, MI
I happen to live in the ideal state for these shots...MICHIGAN,,,both great waters to shoot sunrises that can carry fog through trees, misty lakes and ponds, great expanses of endless beaches on both the dusk & dawn sides of the state. The only bad thing is that in the summer sunrises can be at 5 am...and sunsets as late as 9:30-10 pm....ok use the rest of the day for exploring Pure Michigan...there is a lot to experience.
Sunset at the Suncoast casino
Las Vegas, NV
www.suncoastcasino.com
Sunset over Trenton MI, from Grosse Ile, MI
Sunset over frosty Monroe county MI ...cell phone
Back to topic...
The key to a great sunrise or sunset picture...other than getting up...or staying up...is to control the light cumming into the camera. You want to get as much in as you can, while still being in control of the shot. To do this I do one of 2 things. I either bring out my tripod and set the camera to shoot at the longest possible aperture (A-mode) and let the camera do its job. The other method, and my preferred...for most situations...method is to set the camera to the speed mode and I will lock it into 1/60...or even 1/45 of a second and let the camera to set the aperture. The keys to the speed setting is that you can still get a no...almost no movement in the picture at those speeds...IE: hand shakes. If you have a sillouet and/or sunset mode n your camera...use it. I don't have a problem if a person uses the tools that are given. They are great if you out with friends and want them in the shot...just remember to add the flash to the mode, or they will be just a blotch of darkness.
Guardian Angle as I left Catalina Island CA
4/2006...w/cell phone
facing east at sunset in Bishop Park in Wyandotte, MI
cell phone
A country road at sunrise along the Aranac & Ogemaw Co line
Near Skidway Lake MI
Mofit Bridge along Maple Ridge Rd
Aranac Co MI
Sunrise through the trees at Elbow lake near Skidway lake MI
Sunrise Surprise over Acme, MI
The other part of the picture is the subject. I know that many of you will be blinded by the light of the sunrise. The truly great shots can come from the mire presence of the sunrise. By just being there a little bit early or late you can get some great shots like I did of Wyandotte...see above... you can also get surrounding shots of how the light first strikes the trees over Elbow Lake. There are so many great shots that can get overlooked just because we get sun blinded. Remember sunrise after a stormy night can create an over flowing rainbow...if you just turn around.
A life boat on Grand Haven, MI beach
Sunset over Grand Haven, MI lighthouse
Avalon Casino Catalina Island, CA
Sunset over M33 near Exit 202 of I-75
Aranac Co. MI
Sunset over the Field of Dreams in Iowa
Take the time to enjoy the dawns and dusk, and everything that comes between. You never know when, as Bill Cosby would say "OK...everybody outta the pool." (God..."Noah").
Sunset over Humbug Marsh & Trenton Canel
From Grosse Ile, MI
Sunrise over Grosse Ile's Norther tip & Trenton Canel
From BASF Park
Wyandotte, MI
Sunset over a pond next to Emagin Theater
Woodhaven, MI
Sunrise over the Straits of Mackinaw
Labor Day 2012 ... from The Mackinaw Bridge
Sunset before the Freedom festival Fireworks Detroit, MI
from Windsor, ON
