Get outside. Watch the sunrise. Watch the sunset. How does that make you feel? ~ Amy Grant
There aren’t many subjects that move a photographer like dogs, kids and sunsets and I don’t mean to impose any particular order on this distinguished trio of subjects.
Sunrise though doesn’t rate so highly. That’s not to rob from the beauty of a city sunrise silhouette…

San Francisco skyline at dawn. Shot from Pt. Cavallo on the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge
…or the first blush warming a mountain face. One has to work for a sunrise. The reward of capturing a mountain dawn means leaving the comfort of a warm bed in the chill of the predawn darkness.

Sunrise lights up the face of the Grand Teton range. Foreground is the Moulton Barn.
“At sunrise everything is luminous but not clear.”~ Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through it and Other Stories

Sunrise strikes the Marshall Point Light, Maine.
Sunsets are more accommodating to the routine. No drowsy morning or the inner argument over catching the morning sun or a few extra winks of sleep. Sunset often needs only a glance at the sky, a vantage point and a little patience. Some help from Mother Nature in creating the palette couldn’t hurt.
“The first stab of love is like a sunset, a blaze of color — oranges, pearly pinks, vibrant purples…”
~ Anna Godbersen, The Luxe

Sunset at San Pablo Bay, California.
“Tonight the sun has died like an Emperor … great scarlet arcs of silk … saffron … green … crimson … and the blaze of Venus to remind one of the absolute and the infinite … and along the lower rim of beauty lay the hard harsh line of the hills …” ~ John Coldstream, Ever, Dirk: The Bogarde Letters

Sunset. Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
“There can’t possibly be anything more beautiful than Seaside Beach at sunset.”
― Bryn McCarren, Speaking Up for Each Other: A Collection of Short Stories for Tweens and Middle Grade Readers

Setting sun lights the Morro Bay waters.
“There is nothing is more musical than a sunset.” ~ Claude Debussy

Vineyard Sunset, Drytown, California
While both sunrise and sunset are spectacular in their natural glory a little editing can add to the mood. Below sunrise edited using a water color filter.

Dawn Rue St Jean, Quebec City, Canada
Renowned photographer Catherine Opie said, “The biggest cliche in photography is sunrise and sunset.” In the words of Steve Martin, “Well excuuuuse me.” If sunrise and sunset are overdone, so is this highbrow criticism. There’s a reason that people photograph the sunrise and sunset – they’re both pleasing. We don’t make images to please the pedantics – we make them to please ourselves and our audience.
This post is my contribution to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Sunrise to Sunset. To view Cee’s contribution and those of others follow the link to Cee’s site.
Wow, fabulous pictures! They are all beautiful but the last one is simply magical like something from a Disney movie. I love both sunrise and sunset but agree with you that sunrise pictures are a bit harder to come by.
Thank you so much Susanne. As I recall that photo of Rue St. Jean was originally pretty dark and using the watercolor edit was the best way to save it.
Beautiful shots Paulie!!
Thank you Pam. Appreciated.
OMG, Paulie. Stunning
Thank you so much Jane. I’m glad you enjoyed the images.
Wow, wonderful images…all of them.
Thank you Teresa.
WOWZA. These are outstanding photos. I love the clarity you have in them. 😀
Thank you Cee. As always thank you for giving us the opportunity to exhibit our work.
I do enjoy other people’s sunrises. Yours are wonderful, Paulie. If only you didn’t have to get up so early in the morning for them!
Thank you for the kind words. I’m fortunate that I’m usually up before sunrise anyway. In fact as I write this it’s still dark outside and there’s an hour to go until sunrise.
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting.
Congratulations! I have selected your post to be featured on CFFC.
https://ceenphotography.com/2020/12/08/cffc-water-2/
I sure hope you are having a fun week.
Thank you so much Cee!