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Sunset and the use of filters.
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Jun 29, 2018 11:44:45   #
twowindsbear
 
tonyi wrote:
Hello, going to St. Pete’s Beach in a couple of weeks and plan on trying to capture some sunset photos. Notice I said try. Do I need a filter in order to get a nice shot, and if so, what do you recommend. Also, anyone know of a spot that would be a good photo op. Thank you, Tony.


First off - Mother Nature will need to be involved to give you the right weather conditions for a great sunset pic.

Next - make ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY SURE that your horizon is level! If your camera has can show a grid in the view finder or the LCD screen - USE IT!

Finally - take lots & LOTS of pix. Electrons are free & memory cards aren't very expensive. Vary your exposures. Try filters: a CPL may help, may not; same with a GND; if you get flare, remove the filter. The longer the lens' focal length, the bigger the sun will record in your photo. IF your camera has a 'sunset' scene mode, try that, too.

Good luck, have FUN, and most of all, have a safe trip.

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Jun 29, 2018 16:54:45   #
jakraig
 
I love sunsets, I suspect I have more photos of sunsets than my 24 grandchildren. I never use a filter for a sunset. I do like to use a long lens and then stop it way down, at least that is how I do a sunset when the sun is in the picture. Just as often though I have keepers that have no sun just the orange and pink hues of the clouds when the sun has gone just below the horizon, the clouds still see the sun but we don't.

One of the secrets of fascinating sunset pictures is using a long lens making the sun look very large. I take picture often at Sanibel or Captiva islands just off the west coast of Florida at Ft. Myers and Cape Coral. Sometimes, at the right time of year I can do that at Ft. Myers Beach, the benefit of that is that it is full of Pelicans and I can often get one of them in my sunset pictures.

Sunsets are not hard for most cameras, the lens is much more important. This was taken with a little Nikon D3200 and a Tamron 70-300 lens. The best thing about the lens is that it will stop down to F:44 which is great for getting the sun. The pelican in the picture was in the picture originally but I did move it over toward the sun a little.

The second picture was taken with a little Olympus SP55OUZ point and shoot, but it was all I had with me. I'm glad I tried.

The third was taken right after sunset when I noticed the moon coming up in the trees. Fortunately I had a camera that could do the job, the D800 and the Tamron 70-300 again.







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Jun 29, 2018 17:36:47   #
pamelawinter Loc: Ocala, Florida
 
St. Pete may be in Florida (east coast) but it’s on the western side of the state, facing the Gulf. Sunsets over the water are better from there.

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Jun 29, 2018 19:31:55   #
tonyi Loc: Oxford, Pennsylvania
 
Beautiful captures jakraig. Thanks for the tips.

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Jun 29, 2018 22:25:24   #
Alsweet Loc: Gold Coast, Australia
 
I will probably draw some flak for this but: Follow the advice given in this forum but also experiment using the "sunset" scene settings on your camera. These generally move your settings toward the red end of the spectrum giving richer reds and yellows.

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