30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 23 | Sunflare

Sunflares can make a photo magical.  They add that mystical glow that makes you catch your breath and feel like for a moment, you truly were there.  I love sunflares.  I love the softness they add to the photograph.  The imperfect beauty.

I was excited for today.

Then I learned a lesson:

Don't put it off.

Yup.  That's what I did.  I took a few shots in the morning.  Nothing serious.  Then I decided I could just wait until my kiddos were in bed to get my awesome challenge winner.  Bad decision, right there.  I went out with my friend Heidi and we tried.  We even found the park that my husband and I went to on our honeymoon 7 years ago.  It was a special place, a beautiful night... and I just couldn't get a flare!

Go figure, right?  

While the sunset was amazing, the clouds were taking away the chance of any worthy sunflares.  That, or my mind just wasn't it in the game because I kept thinking of my husband, and my shots were sad because of that.  Either way, putting it off ended up making my day nothing like I thought it would be.

Luckily I did snap those few shots in the morning.  If I hadn't... I would have had nothing for today.

Take my advice: If you have a goal, never put it off.  You don't know if waiting that one extra hour might result in you losing the goal all together.

Even though these aren't flare shots, I wanted to share them.  They were taken at the park.  Seven years ago I was a newlywed at this same park, holding hands and laughing with my husband on our honeymoon.  I haven't been to that park since.  Going there made me smile.  And made me want to take him back there once again.

30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 12 | Sunset

I grew up on a little island in Washington State.  The sunsets there, almost nightly, are breath-taking.  Colors splashing across the watery horizon.  Sun disappearing behind the distant mountains, rays rippling along the ocean waves.  Watching the sunset on the island is a blessing.

And I miss it.

Where I live now... From my apartment I cannot even see the sunset.  Too many trees and other buildings block my view of one of my most favorite times of the day.  When today's challenge came up, I have to admit I felt disheartened.  I knew if I were back on the island, the sunset would be gorgeous.  It would be there, waiting to be captured.  Breath-taking.

Here... I felt like I wouldn't get the shot.
Along with that, it was overcast.  Then dumping rain.  Then hailing...

Regardless, I had to try.  My friend Tiffany and I ducked away as soon as my hubby got home from work.  We headed west, out of town and into the rural stretch.  Finally finding a good spot to pull over, we set up photo camp... and waited.

Though the sunset was nothing like I have seen before, it was still gorgeous.  I forget that even though I am no longer living on that little island that is blessed with non stop beauty, there is still beauty here.  I just have to look a little harder for it.  And more than that: appreciate it when I do see it.

Here are a few more shots of the sunset:

30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 3 | Clouds

I have to say: This was a hard one.

Sure, the sky is always there and there are always clouds floating by.  Especially in April.  But today the weather decided to give me a very overcast day.  As in the entire sky was one huge, gray, icky cloud.  Needless to say, I was disappointed.  Yesterday was gorgeous.  Why couldn't yesterday have been cloud day?

Not to mention I have never been that into take photos... of clouds... Unless I am at the beach with a gorgeous sunset lighting them up.  Oh yes.

Well, I set my camera up on the tripod, checked the window much too often, and when I finally saw that break in the clouds I ran outside to fight for my shot.  Thank goodness my youngest was napping and my oldest (the birthday boy!) was more than happy to look at clouds with mommy.

The shot I chose isn't nearly as sharp as I would have liked.  But I love the overall movement of it.  The clouds were just melting in the sky, giving me a glimpse of blue before the massive gray single-cloud took back over once again.  This shot shows that melting movement.

How did I get this shot?  A mix of a good high f-stop in my attempt to capture any detail I could, and my trusty tripod.  Man, am I happy I got this tripod!  It is sure getting its use!

Here are two other shots I enjoyed.