If you Have been here before, you know I have a love for the first and last light of the day. You might also know that I have memorialized those hours in photos, countless times.

All sunrise/sunsets are not equal, so I reason that every variation of such is worth the effort to capture, and also to share.

Sunrise/sunsets deserve thoughtful composition just as any photo does. Many of the so called rules of composition apply with this subject as with any other. Even if the images is pretty much a giant silhouette.

Of course, some rules are made to be broken.

Direct, obvious silhouettes, are one of the most common forms of “the edge of light” photography. They reduce scenes to color, blackness, and shape.

Composition matters as much, and occasionally more than is so with “normal” images.

Still, breaking those rules will allow you to show your personal side. We are all different and letting that show in images, within the respectful parameters of decency, is in my opinion, a good thing.

Normally, in an image such as you see below, I would feature the colorful sky, and the top edges of the land. In this image, I left a whole lot of dark, featureless land. I of course did this with purpose, as to turn pretty into “sort of pretty, but dark and ominous.

Of course the logical thing to do, would be to try several compositions. and come home with variety. That is often the route I pursued.

Using trees, plants and other common shapes as silhouettes, is my favorite route to take.

Below we have just that, and the composition of where I placed the trees and other subjects, is pretty much from the book. If there is a book.

Of course, even traditional images as far as the subject for the silhouettes are concerned, can be unique and mood provoking.

A composition which uses the red sky, as somewhat of the centerpiece, and dark areas at various points around the red, is something I have found to be accepted by most aficionados of the art of sunrise/sunset.

This sunset created at The Black Canyon of The Gunnison in Colorado, has tipped over into the abstract area of this genre of image making.

Despite the disorder of the bright spots with the dark spots, with crossing dark areas running both vertically, and horizontally, the actual subject is of course obvious.

It “borders” on an evil feeling with this image, but not quite.

Examining various formulas used in capturing the rising or setting sun, was always something I loved teaching while giving slide shows, or teaching in the field.

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Take note of what one famous man said a long time ago.

What’s happeing in the world today, not just including America, but I would say especially in America, drives home the message that the illetetists, those that want to own us, are finally after centuries of trying, getting what they want.

Those of you who like what you hear today, and think we are “progressing”, take care what you wish for.

Our current world is full of Karl Marx’s. Take care of what you are sold. Often a lie sounds good until you wind up actually living in the lie. Then, It is too late.

For how many generations, can some people hear the same lie, and fall for it again?

Maybe honest history lessons (and other things) in school could help once and for all, to explain and exhibit the morality of freedom over the tyranny of despots.

May God Bless,
Wayne