The Art of Taking Sunset Pictures

Sun setting in Ontario

Having Fun Taking Pix of the Sun

For many years I've been taking pictures of the setting sun. Sunset pictures are immortal, ever since photos became common amongst the public a good pic of the setting sun has been a "keeper" for many a photographer. After taking literally hundreds of sunset shots I know a few things:

• No two sunsets are the same. Depending on time of year, sun angle, atmospheric conditions and other variables, a camera setting that takes a good pic the previous day may not be right the next day. 
• Be careful when you focus on the sun, it is important you don't look directly at the sun itself as you can damage your eyes.
• Experiment with your shutter speeds and f-stops, change them up and see what you get. 
• The look of the sun can change every 10 or 15 seconds, especially as it dives beneath the horizon. 
• Have fun, use things like trees and clouds to give your image some perspective. Don't center every shot, use the principle of "thirds"" when composing your image.

Here's a few images I've taken over the past few years.

Who's Going to Disney This Year?

AYA 2011 Championship Winners John Butts, Aidan Butts and Luke Turcotte

The winner of the 2012 Angler Young Angler, that's who! What an awesome prize the young anglers have to look forward to.

Seeing as this past weekend was the Ice Fishing Derby in the AYA Fishing Tournaments, I thought I had better post the dates for the 2012 AYA fishing tournaments in Sunset Country. For those unaware of the Angler Young Angler Tournaments, it is a series of fishing tournaments committed to introducing and teaching youth competitive sport fishing in a fun, family and friendly orientated way through a series of regional fishing tournaments in North America. You can read more about it and past results in our 2011 AYA Fishing Tournament post.

The 2012 AYA Fishing Tournament dates in Northwestern Ontario are as follows:

Red Lake, ON - June 3, 2012
Dryden, ON - June 23, 2012
Thunder Bay, ON - July 7, 2012

The 2012 AYA Championship is held in Kenora, Ontario on Lake of the Woods on August 18, 2012. The winners from each tournament will compete in the championship in August. The top place will win a trip for 4 to Disney World. Second prize will be a stay at Wilderness North Lodge, a fly-in fishing resort. Please visit the Angler Young Angler website for more information on the tournaments and the prizes.

Dates for the other AYA Fishing Tournaments are:

Canada:
Yellowknife, NWT - June 17, 2012
Lac La Biche, AB - July 8, 2012
Travers Dam, AB - TBD
Fort Qu'Appelle, SK - June 24, 2012
Prince Albert, SK - July 7, 2012
Rivers, MB - June 2, 2012
Winnipeg, MB - June 16, 2012
Timmins, ON - July 14, 2012

United States:
Devil's Lake, ND - July 14, 2012
Perham, MN - June 2, 2012
Grand Rapids, MN - June 23, 2012
Houghton, MI -July 14, 2012
Escanaba, MI - June 16, 2012
Green Bay, WI - TBD
Green Lake, WI - June 16, 2012
Fox Lake, IL - TBD

The 3rd Annual AYA Fundraiser Ice Fishing Derby was held this past weekend on Lake Winnipeg on March 10th. I can't find the results yet, but will post when I find them. Prizes included a Lund 1400 Fury SS, 25HP Mercury ELPT & Shoreland’r Trailer valued at $10,500 USD, a 4 day / 5 night stay at Andy Myers Lodge valued at $1,718 USD, Strikemaster Power Augers, Clam Corporation,  Lindy Tackle, Simms, Marcum Technologies, Guided Fishing Trips with Lund Pro’s.

For more information and updates you can also visit the Angler Young Angler Facebook page.

Which Sculpture Would You Choose?

The 2012 Kenora Winter Carnival is set to take place March 2-4, 2012. This morning I took photos of the seven snow sculptures along what is known as thew Kenora Greenbelt. Official judging takes place on Friday. If you were the judge, which snow sculpture would you pick to win first place?

#1 - Moose Skiing

#2 - 1 Fish 2 Fish

#3 - Tobogganing

#4 - Trees

#5 - Fun Family Time

#6 - Fish under the ice

#6 - Different angle of Fish under the ice

There is one other sculpture that is not finished yet. Either that or someone has ruined (eek!) some of it, I am hoping it's just not completed yet.

They are all so good, it will be hard to pick a winner. I think my two favourite sculptures are the Tobogganing one and the Fish under the ice (these are just my names by the way). So which is your favourite snow sculpture?