Mini Challenge #233 ~ Look to the Skies

EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
edited September 23, 2016 in The Dgrin Challenges
Mini Challenge #233 ~ Look to the Skies ~

I am fortunate to live in a rural area where I have a good view of the Skies, and I enjoy looking at, and photographing
interesting stuff that appears there... still hoping to get a killer UFO shot someday - I can dream, can't I?? :D

For this Mini please post images of the sky, as either the subject, or as a significant element of the composition.
It can be Astro-photography, Landscapes, Seascapes, Sunsets, Skylines, etc... just about anything that features the Sky in some way!
Make me say WoW!


This Mini will run for two weeks; from today, Wednesday, September 7, to Thursday, September 22th, at 9:00 pm PST ~ SoCal Time

Thanks, and as always, I'm looking forward to seeing your clicks!

Usual Stuff:
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OUR UN-OFFICIAL GENERAL RULES
1. Have fun sharing and seeing what others share!
2. The host supplies a topic and YOU POST 1-3 IMAGES. The host judges the winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and is not eligible to enter. The 1st place winner becomes the next host, chooses the next topic and becomes the next judge.
3. Any photo you’ve taken is eligible, regardless of when taken or camera used.
4. Any amount of post-processing is allowed. However, it is helpful if you list your camera and lens along with your photo.
5. You may comment on other contestant's images. If you want someone to leave you some critique or criticism, just ask within your post.
6. The winner has up to three days (72 hours) to begin a new mini-challenge, or the honor goes to the #2 finisher and so forth.

Guidelines:
1. Enter 1-3 photos and put them in a single post.
2. Either embed your image in the thread or, if you must, supply a link to it. Keep in mind, however, most people don't want to click to open photos hosted elsewhere (i.e. on your website).
3. Also try and re-size your photos prior to posting so they're sized appropriately for viewing without having to scroll (~800 pixels on the longest side works best.)
4. Give each image you enter a title.
5. Enjoy discussion with members about their images, don't let this just be an entry thread!
6. When quoting a post, change the IMG urls to a 200x200 size picture so it is clear your post is feedback and not another entry. (See here for help).
7. Don't be hesitant; share 'em and enter!

Mini-Challenge pointers:
1. Upon winning a mini-challenge round, your first step is coming up with a new theme and starting a new thread using the same format as others have used.
2. Make sure to notify the admin of this thread to update the main thread links with your entry thread.
3. Feel free to watch the thread as it grows or wait to the end time and look at all the entries all at once.
4. After the time/date has passed, then officially close the thread with a single post notifying everyone of the fact.
5. After you're finished judging, start a new thread (again using the prior formats) and post your Winner and runners-up. It is important to have runners up in case the winner does not show within the 72-hour window.
6. PM the winner with this info above and let them know they have 72 hours to set up the next mini-challenge.
7. If the winner does not show/start the next mini-challenge after 72 hours, notify the next runner-up and post a message on the Winner thread of the fact.
8. Remember, if you're the Winner, you run the next mini challenge!

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Examples:

Cold-hearted%20Orb-XL.jpg


Portal%20to%20Heaven-XL.jpg


60D_2010_12_16_2534-XL.jpg


Distant%20Places-XL.jpg
Eric ~ Smugmug
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Comments

  • slpollettslpollett Registered Users Posts: 1,189 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2016
    Great topic, even if I don't really have anything that will fit.

    Your examples are all beautiful! I really love the first two--gorgeous moon shot & love the arch in the clouds in the second one.

    Sherry P.
  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2016
    slpollett wrote: »
    Great topic, even if I don't really have anything that will fit.

    Your examples are all beautiful! I really love the first two--gorgeous moon shot & love the arch in the clouds in the second one.

    Sherry P.
    Thank-you Sherry! Please look in your image library - I'll bet you've got something nice that will work!
    Both of those shots are from my yard... the second one is at the end of a day of amazing skies... I'd never seen anything quite like it.
    Here's another part of the sky during that sunset:

    Can%27t%20Explain-XL.jpg
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • slpollettslpollett Registered Users Posts: 1,189 Major grins
    edited September 8, 2016
    [Envious over your skies....] nod.gif

    We just don't have that where I live--not to say that 'somewhere' in Texas doesn't have nice skies, but not where I live and hang out 99.9% of the time. So...I'd have to dig really, really, really deep to find something that could best be described as "meh".

    Here's what I could find is anything close:
    i-XrNP2Gn-L.jpg

    i-HmdkrKj-L.jpg

    Edited to add: Oh, I found another one! This is my first ever attempt as photographing the night sky. This was taken in July at Zion National Park.
    P7113495-1-L.jpg

    These aren't really entries...just examples of the most exciting sky I've ever seen around here...which are still pretty boring...lol. rolleyes1.gif

    Most of the time our sky is blue and cloudless or completely gray.

    I'll wait until my next vacation to try to find a good sky.

    Sherry P.
  • FlorianBaaskeFlorianBaaske Registered Users Posts: 70 Big grins
    edited September 8, 2016
    Here are my 2cents

    View Ahead:
    View-Ahead-XL.jpg

    Dark Evening:
    Dark-Evening-XL.jpg

    Colorful Sunrise:
    Colorful-Sunrise-X2.jpg
  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited September 8, 2016
    slpollett wrote: »

    ...We just don't have that where I live--not to say that 'somewhere' in Texas doesn't have nice skies...
    Well, I really like both of your images Sherry - you did great with what opportunities you were given!... thanks for sharing!
    I love the composition and color gradation in the first one! clap.gif

    Please re-consider and enter the Mini!
    Cheers!
    Eric
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited September 8, 2016
    Hello FlorianBaaske wave.gif
    Welcome to Dgrin and the Challenges.
    Thanks for entering the Mini!

    Cheers and good luck!
    Eric
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • CHANDLERJACHANDLERJA Registered Users Posts: 400 Major grins
    edited September 8, 2016
    1. NIGHT IN NEW MEXICO!

    Untitled_Panorama2c4-XL.jpg

    2. CATCHING A RAY!

    HISTTEST-2195-HDR2-XL.jpg

    3. FEELING BREEZY :D

    AN7O0847b2d-XL.jpg
    Jeromy
    http://snaptx.smugmug.com/
    Light is everything in life and photography.
  • PiddlingPatPiddlingPat Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
    edited September 9, 2016
    Southern Piney Sunset
    IMG_2424.JPG
  • PiddlingPatPiddlingPat Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
    edited September 9, 2016
    Kansas Sunrise
    IMG_4591.JPG
  • PiddlingPatPiddlingPat Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
    edited September 9, 2016
    Smokies Sunset
    IMG_8808.JPG
  • sarasphotossarasphotos Registered Users Posts: 3,822 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2016
    I was surprised at how many of my pictures had a sky/clouds keyword. Here are the three I chose:


    1) South of Augsburg on a summer late-afternoon
    i-Z9Fz48f-X2.jpg



    2) Pastel sunset over Lake Garda, Italy

    20130815_446_DMC-G5-X2.jpg


    3) Sunset silhouettes, Christmas Day 2015, Munich

    20151225_077_DMC-G5-X2.jpg
  • travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2016
    Earache wrote: »
    Well, I really like both of your images Sherry - you did great with what opportunities you were given!... thanks for sharing!
    I love the composition and color gradation in the first one! clap.gif

    Please re-consider and enter the Mini!
    Cheers!
    Eric

    I too like your photos Sherry - glad to see that you posted them! :)
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,220 moderator
    edited September 9, 2016
    2) Pastel sunset over Lake Garda, Italy

    20130815_446_DMC-G5-X2.jpg
    This is gorgeous Sara! The colors are perfect, both the sky and the reflection.

    --- Denise
  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2016
    @ PiddlingPat... Howdy and Welcome to Dgrin! Thanks for entering the Mini Challenge! thumb.gif

    WoW!! clap.gif
    Alright you guys... you've already made me say WoW! several times... thanks, and I hope to say it more!

    So, instead of Laughing.gif... I'm doing WOL - WoW-Out-Loud!! wings.gifrolleyes1.gif

    Cheers All!
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • sarasphotossarasphotos Registered Users Posts: 3,822 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2016
    This is gorgeous Sara! The colors are perfect, both the sky and the reflection.

    --- Denise

    Thanks, Denise. This was the view from the deck of our holiday apartment and every evening the sunsets got better and better. It was all I could do to sip my wine and not take pictures the entire time! :D
  • kdotaylorkdotaylor Registered Users Posts: 1,274 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2016
    I love looking at the sky.......

    #1 Clear to Storm in Five Minutes Flat
    15October_untitled_094-L.jpg

    #2 Iowa Barn Under Stormy Skies
    DSC_0074-L.jpg

    #3 Florida Coast
    wave-L.jpg
    Kate
    www.katetaylor.smugmug.com
    "You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." Mark Twain
  • sarasphotossarasphotos Registered Users Posts: 3,822 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2016
    Great shots, Kate! Hard to say which is my favorite.
  • travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2016
    Wonderful theme, examples and entries

    Here is my contribution:

    1. Above the clouds

    Sky scape

    2. Sunset on Lake Ontario



    3. Before the tropical storm - Guatemala

    Before the tropical storm
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
  • slpollettslpollett Registered Users Posts: 1,189 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2016
    Earache wrote: »
    Well, I really like both of your images Sherry - you did great with what opportunities you were given!... thanks for sharing!
    I love the composition and color gradation in the first one! clap.gif

    Please re-consider and enter the Mini!
    Cheers!
    Eric

    Thanks Eric! I will go ahead and call my photos entries, but I don't think they hold a candle to the others that have been posted. I did manage to find a 3rd pic, too.

    I'm going to keep looking around in case we get an interesting sky in the next few days. We have a chance for rain tomorrow, so maybe we will have something other than a completely gray sky. Crossing my fingers......!!

    Sherry P.
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2016
    I feel the same way Sherry, but I go ahead and enter anyway.

    I was going to try to stay away from sunsets - most of my sky photos are of sunsets so eliminating them makes it much easier to pick. But when I was looking for a rainbow photo, I found this one

    1. Sunrset in Dominica

    cCscLVjS4t0EZ47-SGHJqeG1NRFEYy298NFwSgDBu-EGyDYLga5QCzxyWfK68SO8qAr5yPr-CY70PN8=w4519-h2542-no

    I eventually decided on this photo of

    2. A Rainbow

    x6-mQ1PH8nFg3FOteSkq6VcxYipfN2dOi4KrX-j9g1xLbmtYykVcbeDLi_zeGKLV7q4D6GQbPx5Iur4=w4519-h2542-no

    I have a few rainbow photos but this is the classic rainbow photo

    3. Sydney Floating on the Clouds
    oUeJbpLIQkRDTlHan-gasFtj9KA8v2BFirfEY_03zV4dJvCCeIJ2ZoA8oVuJHcT7zzkcUuq8Zl8m9uw=w4519-h2542-no
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2016
    Sherry, grandmaR, thanks much for entering the Mini!
    All of the images look great!

    I have so many WOW!! images to choose from... thanks all!... and more please ;-)
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2016
    grandmaR wrote: »
    3. Sydney Floating on the Clouds

    Love the floating clouds! :)
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2016
    travelways wrote: »
    Love the floating clouds! :)

    It is actually the sky reflected in the wing of an airplane :)

    I'm really envious of the ability to do the starry night sky like 1. NIGHT IN NEW MEXICO!
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • roaddog52roaddog52 Registered Users Posts: 1,323 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2016
    IMG_6193-L.jpg

    Pendleton%20Sunset-L.jpg

    Black%20Hills%20storm-L.jpg
    I don't know where I'm going, but I'm going anyway.

    Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity!
  • CavalierCavalier Registered Users Posts: 3,030 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2016
    Great Topic and some great entries already. I'll post my paltry few here:

    Colorado storm warning
    IMG_4414%20Tadj-X2.jpg

    Morning Moon
    IMG_6939%20Tadj%20strength-X2.jpg

    Not the best shot, but what glorious clouds. I saw baby butts.
    baby%20butts%20Topaz-X2.jpg
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited September 11, 2016
    I see the baby butts too. One of the things my daughter did with her son when he was 6 or 7 and they were touring museums etc was have him look for cherubs (which usually had bare botome)
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • GregLowryGregLowry Registered Users Posts: 15 Big grins
    edited September 14, 2016
    Lunar Eclipse
    Midway through total Lunar Eclipse as seen over Windsor, Ontario, Canada.eclipse 2.jpg
  • sarasphotossarasphotos Registered Users Posts: 3,822 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2016
    Wow, Eric, I'm sure glad I don't have to judge this one - there are some really spectacular shots!!
  • travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2016
    Wow, Eric, I'm sure glad I don't have to judge this one - there are some really spectacular shots!!

    15524779-Ti.gif:)
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2016
    ....there are some really spectacular shots!!


    Yup!!! nod.gif
    Eye candy!! clap.gif
    Eric ~ Smugmug
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