Sunset Through Trees

I went out to try to get a photo of Blossom in the big coral tree out back, but she didn't cooperate. Before I came in, I took this shot of the sun setting through the trees.

Estrella Mountains & Sunset Over White Tanks

Leaving campus the last few weeks, I noticed a nice view of the Estrella Mountains and made a mental note to make sure to take some photos at some point in the future. I decided to head out to do some errands when it cooled off. I didn't make it far before I noticed a nice sunset in the making, so I made the first u-turn I could and went back for my camera. I decided to head for campus to get both some sunset shots over the White Tanks and a shot of the light at sunset on the Estrellas from the vantage point I noted before. It inspired me to try to get some better shots from closer in the future.

Here are the results from today!

Record Heat Sunset

We set the record for how hot is was today (118 degrees!!)  I didn't even venture outside until sunset to get these photos.  Even then, I didn't venture further than my backyard.

Rays of the Sun

I stayed late grading in my office today.  When I finally left (after it got too hot in my office), it was just around sunset.  I had planned to find an air-conditioned location to continue grading, but as I walked to the car, I noticed the rays of the sun filtering through the clouds.  I decided to make a brief stop at home to take some photos.  I got slightly distracted by a neighbor, but here are some of the shots I got when I finally made got to take the photos...

New Year's Sunset

First sunset of 2011!

Pretty Cloud Formations

When I go "home" (i.e. to Bonita), I tend to go crazy over kitty photos. They're so fun to follow around and capture on "film." Today's photos are a bit of a break from the cat photos...I took these photos over the course of 6 minutes. It always amazes me how fast the colors in the sky change around sunset!

January Sunset

I only had my point and shoot camera with me to capture this sunset. I really don't like using it for sunset photos, but I didn't have my DSLR with me because it has a spot on the lens that's been bugging me. I did the best I could with the point and shoot, but it's a bit blurry since I never feel quite in control with it.

Evening Summer Sky

I was out in the yard to give the plants some extra water just after sunset tonight. I ran right back in to get my camera when I saw this...

Hotel Sunset

As I walked up to the hotel to meet my dad tonight, I decided to take a photo of the sun setting over the freeway between these two palm trees.

Sunset Before Dinner

My mom and I went to On the Border for dinner tonight and I just had to stop and take this photo before we headed inside to eat. I was wishing I was back at the EMCC parking lot like the night before, but this shot came out okay!

Sunset Over White Tanks

I was out running errands tonight when I noticed the sunset. I rushed to get to the parking lot at Estrella Mountain because it's the perfect place to get the sun setting over the White Tanks. I've missed a few great shots because I've been too far away to get there, but I made it tonight!

Sunset Over White Tanks

I noticed the sun setting over the White Tanks as I was leaving campus tonight and stopped to take a photo. It wasn't as dramatic as some of my other sunset photos, but I still enjoyed it!

Another Church Sunset

Wow, another sunset over the church photo in the same week. I had taken a couple of photos while at work earlier today, but even before the sun set, I knew it was going to be a great one. I rushed home (and put off an errand) just to get some photos!

Sunset Over Church

I was really intrigued by the cloud patterns and the way the sky looked this evening when I got home. The sun was a bit bright behind the church, but I was able to get the right angle for the building to block most of it!

Backyard Sunset

Once again, I had a really hard time deciding on my photo for today. I think part of it was because I was out and about quite a bit today. In the end, I decided based on the criteria of what I would or wouldn't be able to re-create or go back and take pictures of later.

This is the sunset from my back yard. I have a limited range within my view that isn't obscured very obviously by telephone poles and the like. I had to move around to hide a couple behind the trees as well. Here's my favorite.

Sunset Over Neighborhood Church

I wasn't sure what to shoot today, so I stayed behind in my office and took some photos of multi-color pencils I was sharpening as extras for exams the following day (we have no pencil sharpeners in our classrooms so I bring extras). As I was driving home, I noticed the cloud formations looked interesting to the west, so I parked my car, took out my camera, and walked around the neighborhood. I took some different angles of this same shot, but I chose this one for my daily photo. This is the same church as in my photo from last Sunday.

Sunset at Estrella Mountain

I had to rush back to campus tonight because I left my jump drive in a classroom. Of course in my rush back, I grabbed only my wallet (and not my purse or camera). On my way back out of the parking lot, I noticed the sun setting through the trees and thought "What a great shot!" Of course I sped home, grabbed the camera and drove back. I knew it wasn't likely that I'd get back in time (though I live less than a mile away), and I was right. But I did get this shot! I've thought about shooting these cacti at this campus entrance for a while, but was waiting for the right circumstances!

Sunset Through the Trees

I'm taking a professional development class at another community college in our district on Thursdays, and when I came out of class tonight, I had the makings of some great sunset photos. I spent probably 30 minutes taking various photos in different directions. It really intrigues me living at the edge of a time zone. As the sun is setting it tends to be a lot darker to the East than to the West (more so than it ever was in California where I've spent most of my life).

I had a really hard time deciding what photo to use today. In fact, as I type this, I'm still thinking about changing my mind. Since this is actually a catch up post where I'm posting after the actual day I took the photo, I can say that I had 3 days in a row where I'm in the same situation! It's fitting given my comments above that I was struggling with one shot towards the west and one towards the east. This is the one towards the west.

Of course this means that I'll be posting the rest of the photos over at my other blog yet again. Feel free to check them out at http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com

The one from today that I shot towards the east contains a cameo by the moon and will be over at my other blog as soon as I finish catching up here :-)