predicting good sunrises
Nov 22, 2018 18:18:28 #
I shoot a lot of sunsets here in the Texas Panhandle. We are fortunate to have some of the best in the world here. So much so that many movie studios have come here to capture sunsets for that proverbial ride into it. My question for all though is this; is there a reliable and accurate source for predicting a good sunrise for what-ever area you choose? Sunsets are fairly easy to see coming and hour or two ahead of the actual occurrence but sunrises are much more difficult since you cannot see it coming until it is already happening. I cannot count how many times I've set out early in the morning hoping to get good shots of a stunning sunrise only to be disappointed in the outcome with few to no clouds or so many clouds the sun is totally obliterated.
Nov 22, 2018 18:57:39 #
I've had reasonable success using weather.gov and seeing what tomorrow's weather is forecast to be.
--Bob
--Bob
K.Cole wrote:
I shoot a lot of sunsets here in the Texas Panhand... (show quote)
Nov 22, 2018 19:14:12 #
I've heard some folks mention phone apps. This might be one:
https://www.jmpeltier.com/2017/05/17/review-skyfire-sunsetwx-predicting-sunrise-sunset/
.
https://www.jmpeltier.com/2017/05/17/review-skyfire-sunsetwx-predicting-sunrise-sunset/
.
Nov 23, 2018 10:14:29 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I've heard some folks mention phone apps. This might be one:
https://www.jmpeltier.com/2017/05/17/review-skyfire-sunsetwx-predicting-sunrise-sunset/
.
https://www.jmpeltier.com/2017/05/17/review-skyfire-sunsetwx-predicting-sunrise-sunset/
.
Thanks for the link. That's an interesting read and I think I'm going to give the susettwx a try. I did notice in the review, however, Mr. Peltier only addressed sunsets and said nothing about sunrise predictions.
If anyone has any further information on predicting sunrises; I'd love to hear about it.
Nov 23, 2018 10:47:17 #
Since I have asked about sunrises and sunsets, here are a few of the most recent sunset pictures I took on the 20th of this month. I have hundreds of these dating back a couple of years and with many foregrounds in the event anyone is looking for something specific to use for a project.
Nov 23, 2018 11:57:13 #
I find the WOLU (walk outside look up) method, before leaving the house, to work best for me. No stars=too cloudy, too many stars=no clouds for refraction
Nov 23, 2018 12:19:34 #
travisdeland wrote:
I find the WOLU (walk outside look up) method, before leaving the house, to work best for me. No stars=too cloudy, too many stars=no clouds for refraction
LOL, that can be a useful tool except that my house sits kind of low in the neighborhood surrounded by quite a few large trees and a view of the horizon in the dark is only a mile or less away. With some of my favorite foreground destinations being 50 miles away, the "look up" method is a little less reliable for my purposes especially here on the plains where the horizen with great colors can be 30 to 40miles away or more.Nov 23, 2018 12:49:49 #
I'm here in Central FL, and drive a little over an hour to get to a coast to shoot sunrise, so completely understand your situation-I deal with it as well. Another thing I've done in the past is look at the Visible IR satellite imagery to see the extent, or lack of, the cloud cover.
Nov 23, 2018 15:48:58 #
My local radio station tells me its 'weather view' every thirty minutes. Inevitably it is wrong leading me to scream " look out of the window morons"...! In fact the Met Office weather forecasts describing cloud or rainfall in any given area are about 50/50 correct/wrong as 'weather' is localised. One side of hills often has different weather conditions,,,cold air follows river valleys etc.
Getting an app to say 'when to get up' is called a clock....getting it to tell you its going to be a great sunrise is like asking Mystic Meg for lottery numbers.
As an aside.....I used to drive a camper van to and from work so in the early mornings I regularly marveled at the dawn breaking on my way. It always looked fantastic - till I stopped and dug out the camera - then the mist disappeared and the nicely lit trees were two miles away back etc......I think it was the 'overall effect' of traveling and glancing out the side windows that produced a 'stitched together' beauty. but each component was not quite 'great'. I think expecting a great shot is photography mistake.
have fun
Getting an app to say 'when to get up' is called a clock....getting it to tell you its going to be a great sunrise is like asking Mystic Meg for lottery numbers.
As an aside.....I used to drive a camper van to and from work so in the early mornings I regularly marveled at the dawn breaking on my way. It always looked fantastic - till I stopped and dug out the camera - then the mist disappeared and the nicely lit trees were two miles away back etc......I think it was the 'overall effect' of traveling and glancing out the side windows that produced a 'stitched together' beauty. but each component was not quite 'great'. I think expecting a great shot is photography mistake.
have fun
Nov 23, 2018 20:55:52 #
K.Cole wrote:
Since I have asked about sunrises and sunsets, here are a few of the most recent sunset pictures I took on the 20th of this month. I have hundreds of these dating back a couple of years and with many foregrounds in the event anyone is looking for something specific to use for a project.
That third sunset image is very well composed and rendered. Nicely done.
Nov 26, 2018 11:55:26 #
rjaywallace wrote:
That third sunset image is very well composed and rendered. Nicely done.
Thank you.
I find it kind of humorous that I recieved a private message from someone scolding me for posting pictures on the main discussion board. If that's a rule I have forgotten since I first signed up--my bad. That person went to make comments about this set of pictures being out of focus and the horizons are not level and how it would effect my reputation here. That's fine as I do not pretend or aspire to be a professional. I take and share pictures because I enjoy it and most of the folks I share them with enjoy them as well--that's really all that matters to me. So, if my pics are less than professional level perfection--OH WELL; worse things have happened in my life.
Nov 26, 2018 12:11:50 #
K.Cole wrote:
I shoot a lot of sunsets here in the Texas Panhand... (show quote)
You might want to check out the following site:
https://www.photoephemeris.com/
The app helps in location scouting for golden hour shots.
Nov 26, 2018 14:59:52 #
I haven't read through all the replies, so if this one has been mentioned, please excuse. I use the Photographer's Ephemeris for sunset, sunrise, moon rise and other helpful info. I can't vouch for the sunrise prediction accuracy, but it's been helpful somewhat in predicting sunsets. However, I've found that I have a better chance predicting sunsets by following the progress of a weather front, and I'm usually still asleep during sunrises. I'm told we have some spectacular ones over the bay though. 
Nov 26, 2018 15:22:38 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
rotfl...I'm usually still asleep during sunrises. I'm told we have some spectacular ones over the bay though.
Nov 26, 2018 15:32:40 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.