Storm Front Sunset - Marco Island, FL
Storm Front Sunset - Marco Island, FL

Living in the eastern part of the United States, not too far from the North Carolina coast, it’s not often I have an opportunity to observe and capture beach sunsets over open water. Beach sunrises I can usually see each year, but sunsets are normally behind trees, hills or homes. No doubt it’s just the opposite for those who live near the west coast.

#2 Storm Front Sunset - Marco Island, FL
#2 Storm Front Sunset - Marco Island, FL

So with this latest trip to the gulf coast of Florida the idea of getting sunset photos was already in mind, made stronger when told the ones over the Gulf of Mexico were especially beautiful.

I took sunset photos on three different evenings with the results of each being very different but interesting in their own way. These photos are from my first evening attempt with approaching thunderstorms moving in from over the gulf. While there was little of the sun to be seen there was a striking sky, clouds and light play.

I’ll publish my second sunset photos tomorrow and the third sunset results on Thursday, if interested be sure and check back.

10 Comments

  1. Love the cloud formations, they have a lot of power behind them. One of the best parts of living along the Rocky Mountain Front Range are the opportunities to shoot sunrises with the open prairie to the east then a short 5 mile drive to turn and shoot sunsets against the mountain ranges.

    • Monte, I can’t argue about the photographic opportunities out there. I’ve been there a few times and most everywhere I looked there seemed to be a photo begging to be captured. But I guess like anywhere else after a while you’d get use to it and it wouldn’t hold the magic that it doesn’t for “fresh eyes.” It’s a shame it’s difficult to keep that fresh vision each day.

  2. I like the spotty look of the clouds with the rich glow on the horizon. Nice one.

    • don, I kept waiting for the sun to break through just before dropping below the horizon but it never happened this day. But hey, that sky! :-)

  3. I agree with Monte, this has power behind it, the sweeping clouds, bold blue colors and that shot of white draws the attention.

    • Don, thanks! In the moment I was a little disappointed with the sunset but later after having time to look and consider the clouds, light, and sky…very satisfied.

  4. Those are some great skies Earl. I am sure all of the spring storm activity helped make it more dramatic.

    • Mark, yeah, within a few hours we were experiencing strong thunderstorms and heavy rains. Sometimes we get what we want even if we don’t immediately recognize it at the time. I was wanting an uncommon sunset and that’s what I was given. I keep learning.

  5. Monte,

    Beautiful photos. The clouds are awesome. Greta photos. Thank you for sharing!

    Alan

  6. Those clouds in #1 look almost threedimensional against the sky. And the small silhouettes in the front give the whole scenery an excellent scale. Definitely working for me.