Searching for Sunsets
“God Rays” appearing during sunset at Cannon Beach, OR.
Capturing the perfect sunset involves patience, timing, and a keen eye for composition. The journey to find a picturesque sunset location often leads to serene beaches, rolling hills, or majestic mountains. As the sun starts its descent, the sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant colors, casting a soft and warm glow over the landscape known to photographers as the golden hour. To photograph this fleeting moment, it's essential to adjust the camera settings to optimize the light and shadows, ensuring the rich hues are preserved in the final image. Whether framing the sun between silhouetted trees or reflecting its radiance on calm waters, each sunset offers a unique opportunity to create awe-inspiring photographs that evoke a sense of tranquility and wonder.
In my picture above, I waited patiently for things to develop further after the sun dropped below the horizon. While I waited, colors intensified and brilliant rays began to form as the sunlight shot between clouds and caught moisture in the air. A lone gull wandered the beach and I kept hoping it would line up with the sunset. I had to move a bit to line up the shot but eventually, my patience was rewarded and it moved into the right spot. An additional bonus of this sunset was the brief golden glow on the side of Haystack Rock which I love.
My wife and I are admitted, “Sunset Chasers”. We will brave rain, sleet, snow and heat to watch the sun go down on another day. We sometimes get skunked but it’s often glorious and reminds us of the beauty and vastness of God’s creation.
A few things to keep in mind:
Safety: Never put yourself or others at risk to get the “perfect” shot. Shot it the best you can and edit it.
Get out of Auto Mode: If you’re using a digital camera, set it to Aperture Mode. Set it to f 7 to start, and auto ISO and shutter speed. Take a few test shots and adjust. If the sky is getting blown out (over exposed), try stopping down 1-2 stops, e.g., f 8 or f 11and recheck.
If using a cell phone camera and the sky is blown out (too bright/overexposed) double-tap on the brightest part of your image and drag the exposure setting down to reduce the brightness. There are many YouTube videos showing you how to do this.
Patience: You’d be surprised how many times we’ve said, “It doesn’t get much better than this.” and then it does! Take the time to watch and wait - the best might just be coming!
Explore - Capture - Inspire