The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Sunset

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunset

Here is the Sunset Shot that Matches Yesterdays Post: http://www.awesomephotographyblog.com/twilight-photography/the-sunshine-skyway-bridge-in-twilight/

I have always found the Sunshine Skyway to be one of the most elusive Landmarks to Photograph. Getting the right lighting, clouds, and weather plus getting the lights on the top of the span to all cooperate is a full time job.

While driving home from the office on Friday night, November 11th, 2008, we noticed that the clouds were tall and billowy. The light was exceptional. The weather was picture perfect. The Paint job and lights on the bridge were all brand new. After Years of chasing the Skyway with Lori (In memoriam 1960 – 2008), we finally got some awesome shots of this, the most magnificent of all bridges.

This HDR Photograph was taken from the South Fishing Pier just minutes before Sunset.

HDR Photograph Taken on: 11-12-08 6:05PM EST
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
Shutter Speed: 2.5 Seconds F-Stop: F11 ISO:100 Aperture Priority
Focal length: 95mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens

Click on photo to enlarge

Madeira Beach at Sunset

This Photo of Madeira Beach at Sunset takes me back to my childhood. I grew up here. Mom brought us here all the time. We lived many a day here digging holes, making sand castles, collecting shells. Right behind where this photo was taken is an old Hot Dog shop that benefits the Veteran’s. We always had to have a snack at the beach.

Later as a teenager, watching sunset in the car. Late night dates going for a walk on the beach, maybe some smooching with that special someone. All right here!

Tonight it was like being a teenager again, thing…  and a few Pictures…

Photograph Taken on: 08-24-08 6:58PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed: 1/30th Second F-Stop:f11 ISO:100 –0.7 step
Focal length: 18mm Lens: Tamron 11-18mm Wide Angle

A Few Sea Shells and a Mermaids Lei that got washed off her after a Big Storm, Sunset Beach, FL

A Few Sea Shells and a Mermaids Lei that got washed off her after a Big Storm, Sunset Beach, FL

After a Big storm I love to go walk the beach. Many interesting things wash up after a really good winter storm. All sorts of interesting shells and other stuff are found on the beach. Those Gorgeous Amber Pen Shells with their golden color, especially radiant in the light of Sunset are my absolute favorite post storm shells.  I have even read stories of pieces of old shipwrecks washing up. If only I were so Lucky…

One of my favorite post storm stories is where these interesting plants that almost look like a natural Lei, you know the Type that Hawaiians and Mermaids would wear, wash up on shore. You can see the “J” shaped piece above in the photo. I can imagine some poor Mermaid weathering the storm out in her favorite Coral Reef Home and the currents washing her hair too and fro. The Lei being torn from her neck and washing up on shore…

Great Mermaid Site: http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/mermaids/index.html

Photograph Taken on: 1-04-08 5:36PM  Aperture Mode
Model:Nikon D80  Shutter Speed: 1/15 Second  F-Stop:f11  ISO:100
Focal length: 90mm  Lens: Nikon 18-200mm  VR

First California Sunset - Ventura Beach with Santa Cruz Island in Background

First California Sunset – Ventura Beach with Santa Cruz Island in Background

I have not Blogged in a few days. Real Busy here in Santa Barbara, CA. I have been eager to get out for Sunset shoot. Today we had a storm roll thru town. It washed out the Smoke from the fires in Malibu. Yea.

This sunset on Ventura Beach has Santa Cruz island in the background. Santa Cruz Island is part of the Channel islands national park. The biggest island. They have this cool Live Eagle Cam, I guess you can see the chicks when it’s that time of year.
Their web site: http://www.nps.gov/chis/

Looking forward to many more Sunsets, I am not so homesick for FLA now. I can get my awesome sunsets Fix here in CA.

Date Taken: 11-24-07 7:03PM Sunset
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:  Manuel Mode1/80 F-Stop:f11 ISO:100
Focal length: 18mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm VR

Fiery Sunset, Mount Baldy, The Sun Valley, ID

What a great sunset tonight in Sun Valley, ID. Since arriving I have been hoping for a great sunset here. Living in Florida, I guess we are used to them. Living in the mountains it’s more hit and miss.

This Sunset tonight almost looked like the Forest on the other side was on Fire. The intense glow, the clouds, The golden cast it placed on everything, WOW!. My Favorite Sunset since arriving here.

This shot from Dollar Road near city hall in Sun Valley is looking west towards Mount Baldy, the main Ski Area in Ketchum.

Official Sun Valley, Idaho Web Site:
http://www.sunvalley.com/SunValley/Index.aspx

Date Taken: 11-18-07  5:13PM Sunset
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed: 1/5 F-Stop:f5.6 ISO:100
Focal length: 18mm Lens: Tamron 11-18mm

Click on Image to view full size image:

Sunset by the Dunes – Florida’s Forgotten Coast

Florida’s Dunes, Very beautiful, Picturesque, Mystical, and are just plain fun to be around. They are a Perfect and completely natural way for protecting Florida’s coasts from erosion and the tropical storm season. We need to restore and protect all of them.

While meandering along Florida’s Forgotten Coast we came across these awesome dunes at The Mexico City Beach, FL.

This weekend, a storm front had just passed before Sunset. In this panoramic photo you can see the front, to the left of the Sun. The clouds were of the billowy, stringy, Brightly colored variety. The Sea oats were waffling back and forth in the Breeze. Perfect for a relaxing sunset with mother nature. This particular night also had an eclipse of the Moon.

So we sat back in awe of the Dunes and Sunset, Then we turned around and watched the eclipse of the Moon from in front of the dunes…

Top Photo of Dunes : Date Taken: 03-02-07 Sunset
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:N/A F-Stop:f5.6 ISO:125
Focal length:11mm Lens:Tamron 11-18 Wide Angle

Bottom Photo of Moon : Date Taken: 03-02-07 Moonlight
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed: 1/10s F-Stop:f11 ISO:100
Focal length:200mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm Wide Angle

The Mexico City Beach web site, a great place to visit:
http://www.mexicobeach.com/cdc/

You can read my first Dunes Story and Photograph here:
http://www.awesomephotographyblog.com/travel/dunes-lone-survivor-floridas-forgotten-coast/

Sunset during an X-Class Solar Flare, Sunset Beach, FL

I love a Great Sunset, It’s one of the requirements of being a native Floridian. It also means I follow the weather in space, especially the goings on at our Sun.

Late December 6th, 2006, Sunspot 930 had just exploded Creating a Solar Tsunami and an X6 Class Solar Flare. See a movie of the explosion on the sun at Spaceweather.com:
http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=08&month=12&year=2006

X-class flares are big, they are major events that can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. The last time this occurred was July 14th, 2000 and it caused what was “The Bastille Day Event“.

The full effects of this Solar Flare hit earth on December 8th, 2006. I had been watching the skies since sunrise, looking for anything unusual to Photograph. Around Noon in Tampa bay, I noticed Ice halos around the sun. I placed one of those Photo’s at bottom.

So, having Never photographed a sunset during a Major Solar event I headed to Sunset Beach, FL. The Place for awesome sunsets in The Tampa Bay area. The Sun was Blasting so bright even at high apertures it completely blurred the clouds around it. Even to the Naked eye…

Here is a Photograph of the Ice Halo as seen from Pinellas Park, FL

Date Taken: 12-08-06 5:13PM Sunset / Massive X6 class Solar Flare
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed: 1/30 Aperture Priority F-Stop:f11 ISO:100
Focal length: 11mm Lens: Tamron 11-18mm

Bottom Photo Taken:  12-08-06 2:29PM Ice Halo’s Massive X6 class Solar Flare
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed: 1/500 Aperture Priority F-Stop:f11 ISO:100
Focal length: 11mm Lens: Tamron 11-18mm