Last night I took my camera club to Lake Chabot in Castro Valley for sunset, and Mother Nature did not disappoint! All I can say is WOW! I haven’t seen a sunset like this in awhile and was so excited that it happened when I scheduled our outing.
The sky was ever-changing and I’m so happy with the images I got. Both of these were taken with my Sony A7 using a 16-35mm lens. The first is a pano later in the evening which I did absolutely nothing to except to straighten the horizon and the second was taken a bit earlier with the same camera and lens, lightly processed in Lightroom.
Enjoy the display!
Panorama
Laura Macky Photography 
June 21, 2016 at 1:19 pm
Wow! And double wow!
June 21, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Wow, thank you! 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 1:19 pm
Sunset photos are my favorites. To say “beautiful” doesn’t do these pictures justice. The first one took my breath away. The second one made me want to soar into the sky.
June 21, 2016 at 2:03 pm
I’m so glad you liked them. Thank you for your kind comments!
June 21, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Gorgeous photos, especially the first one. It looks like an afterlife shot.
June 21, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Thank you Alex. I hope afterlife is that beautiful. ❤
June 21, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Beautiful!
June 21, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Thank you so much!
June 21, 2016 at 1:25 pm
WOWZA!! Beautiful! You’re making me jealous with that A7, Laura. ❤️
June 21, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Thanks so much John! I can tell you that it’s a WHOLE lot easier to carry around compared to my Nikon.
June 21, 2016 at 1:25 pm
I love sunrises and sunsets. These are besutiful. The panorama is amazing, Laura
June 21, 2016 at 2:05 pm
I love sunrises and sunsets as well. I’m so glad you enjoyed them. :))
June 21, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Stunning photos.
June 21, 2016 at 2:05 pm
Thanks Tux! Much appreciated. 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 1:46 pm
Stunning images!!
June 21, 2016 at 2:05 pm
Thank you!
June 21, 2016 at 1:55 pm
didn’t happen like that
the years I paddled there!
happy to see it
so, now 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 2:06 pm
Me either! And I’ve been going there since I was a kid. I’m glad we can both enjoy it now. 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Great shots with the reflections and color. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to occasionally straighten a horizon.
June 21, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Thank you David. God no! I have the worst camera tilt.
June 21, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Beautiful!
June 21, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Thank you!
June 21, 2016 at 4:05 pm
Totally awesome!!!!
June 21, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Thanks so much Rob! It was quite the evening out there.
June 21, 2016 at 5:14 pm
There is something about a gorgeous sunset that completes the day just perfectly. Beautiful Laura.
~ Dave
June 21, 2016 at 7:05 pm
That is so very true! Thank you. 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 5:48 pm
What a fiery display, beautiful photographs!
June 21, 2016 at 7:05 pm
Thank you! It was unbelievable!
June 21, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Lovely photos
June 21, 2016 at 7:05 pm
Thank you Terry 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 7:41 pm
Fantastic, Laura! Thanks so much for sharing the shots! 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Thank you Fabio!
June 23, 2016 at 10:38 pm
My new blog:
https://when1plus1equals3.wordpress.com/
Best to you, my friend!
June 24, 2016 at 7:35 am
Thanks for the link Fabio. 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 7:52 pm
You were in the right spot! Wasn’t it glorious! I was in Santa Cruz, and turned around and as you said, “WOW!”. Your images are fantastic, and gorgeous!
I’m really loving what you’re doing with the Sony A7 and that lens.
June 21, 2016 at 8:46 pm
Oh did you get some pics? I’ll have to check your blog. OMG it was amazing! And thank you 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 8:55 pm
I only took a couple of iphone images of the red sky behind me. I was wedded to getting the Moon shot which didn’t work out the way I had hoped. I may end up doing a blended image instead of the single frame I hoped for. I’m going to let the images marinate a bit and see how I feel about them in a few days.
I’m so glad you photographed the red evening sky from there. It’s a beautiful spot. I haven’t been there before. Of course your image is selling that spot for me. 🙂
June 22, 2016 at 7:55 am
I’m not much of a moon shooter. I do love it when it’s low on the horizon and huge. But gimme a sunset any day!
June 22, 2016 at 7:56 am
🙂
June 21, 2016 at 8:32 pm
Sony A7 using a 16-35mm lens.
🙂
June 21, 2016 at 8:46 pm
❤️
June 21, 2016 at 9:57 pm
Stunning work Laura.
June 22, 2016 at 7:55 am
Thank you 🙂
June 21, 2016 at 10:02 pm
double wow!! what a visual delight!
June 22, 2016 at 7:56 am
It really was. Thank you!!
June 21, 2016 at 10:14 pm
Love a flash sunset!! : )))
June 22, 2016 at 7:56 am
Me too!
June 22, 2016 at 2:31 am
these are stunning! I may have to kick the old canon to the curb… You, work magic with the A7
June 22, 2016 at 2:32 pm
Thank you so much! I’m loving this camera!
June 22, 2016 at 4:56 pm
I’ve been looking at upgrading to a full frame. And no longer want a heavy camera, so I did briefly look at the A7. Have you had it for long?
June 22, 2016 at 5:29 pm
I’ve had it for a couple months and love it. I also have a Nikon D750 and love that as well but it’s a lot heavier. Now I need more lenses. OY! Does it ever end???? I love full frame and have used this format for a year now.
June 22, 2016 at 6:14 pm
thanks Laura! lenses… that, could be the dilemma. lol. But gosh, your photos, are So lovely, I’m tempted!!
June 22, 2016 at 6:35 pm
Get ittttttt!!!!!!
June 22, 2016 at 6:39 pm
wow…. that is a super great endorsement! thanks for that. I’m heading back to your site to look at more of your pics now! 🙂
June 22, 2016 at 7:27 pm
It’s a great camera. I got mine as a gift but I honestly would get the newest one if you can afford it. More MP
June 22, 2016 at 9:21 pm
over here, for the A7 body only ….its $1400 and for the very newest 7RII price i just saw is $3998 body only. thats disappointing. I saw 42 MP compared to 24 and smiled, for a moment! But its good info.
June 22, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Yeah that’s kind of ridiculous. It’s similar here. I can live with 24. 🙂
June 22, 2016 at 10:28 pm
🙂
June 22, 2016 at 7:32 pm
By the way a lot of those posts you liked were taken with my Nikon. 🙂 And thanks for checking them all out!
June 22, 2016 at 8:51 pm
my pleasure! I was ‘hunting’ for Sony 7 vs Nikon 🙂 I still….. can’t get over your last post of the sunset though. my word. it was fabulous. I do realise, its the Person, behind the camera – that creates the shot. I could get the same camera, and get utter rubbish!! lol
June 22, 2016 at 9:43 pm
I started seriously about three years ago. I took pictures for about three years before that so 6 total. Good equipment especially lenses really makes a difference.
June 22, 2016 at 10:28 pm
Laura, I’d have thought you’d been doing it for alot longer! you are right about equipment. I’d struggled with the kit lenses for ages.
June 23, 2016 at 7:25 am
Yeah I immediately now realize…NEVER buy a camera with a lens. Just buy the body. Get a good lens separately. And thank you!
June 23, 2016 at 8:15 pm
you’re welcome Laura 🙂 I’m having looks online at Sony A7 50mm and macro lenses… as thats I use most. (now. LOL)
June 24, 2016 at 7:31 am
lol! I guess you’ll have it in a few days eh? 😉
June 24, 2016 at 3:31 pm
In a Few Days – not so likely……. have some other ‘bills’ to pay first! LOL but, paving the way, slow and steady 🙂
June 22, 2016 at 3:24 am
You certainly did luck out with this sunset!
June 22, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Totally!
June 22, 2016 at 3:31 am
It always wonderful to catch a sunset like this one. The vertical image is stunning.
June 22, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Thank you so much Rich. I like that one too.
June 22, 2016 at 6:26 am
Simply stunning Laura.
June 22, 2016 at 2:34 pm
Thank you Edith. It was a sight to behold for sure.
June 22, 2016 at 10:19 am
Fabulous
June 22, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Thank you Mark. 🙂
June 22, 2016 at 11:51 am
Gorgeous! The colors are incredible!
June 22, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Thank you Angela. It was really breathtaking!!
June 22, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Laura – I can only imagine how nice this was in person to see such majestic color! ☀️
June 22, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Ps – sorry about the loss with warriors – I actually thought they would win and feel a sense of major shock still – anyhow – sending blog love and hope you have a nice week- peace
June 22, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Oh that. lol Thank you for your condolences. It was shocking. Very close though so at least it wasn’t a blow out!
June 22, 2016 at 6:42 pm
That is a good point – and we know they will be back – and I know this does not make it easier – but the city of Cleveland needed this – I just saw that documentary about the sports pain in that area and heart went out – and some of those residents might have needed this infusion more than others – and I guess I saw my Buffalo friends ache to lose 4 Super Bowls – and maybe in those old steel towns with economic hardship – well maybe a significant event like this is even more assuaging and needed – well never easy to lose – but I think it helps to think of this – and the talent on the Warriors will likely have them back again and again.
Have a great day L!
😉
June 22, 2016 at 7:31 pm
All very good points! The Bay area is very lucky in so many ways and we have so many sports teams over the years that have done so well. The Warriors gave me complete joy all season long and The final result doesn’t take away anything from the whole season. We will go on! So now I’ll end with Go Giants! 😄😄😄
June 22, 2016 at 7:41 pm
Oh that is such a nice perspective and so true !! And earlier this year I would walk by and see Steph curry play and it was so fun! My hubs told me his early on his momma asked the coach if he really thought her son could handle the NBA – well boy can be – and I am sure you know all of it way more than me – but it seems like he brings something generationally fresh! Either way – love to watch him play!
And hah –
Go Giants
June 22, 2016 at 9:52 pm
He does bring something different. The whole team does and a lot of it comes from Steve Kerr.
June 23, 2016 at 6:24 am
so right and ok – just heard that Steve Kerr does yoga – yeah baby!
and that name makes me want to say Steph Curry – so similar.
June 23, 2016 at 7:26 am
LOL…it’s the little things in life. 😉
June 23, 2016 at 7:46 am
indeed. 🙂
June 22, 2016 at 2:36 pm
OMG it really was a sight to behold. Thank you so much. 🙂
June 22, 2016 at 6:36 pm
😎
June 22, 2016 at 12:41 pm
That second one is awesome – I love it when you capture the light as it goes from yellow, through red and orange, to a deeper and deeper blue as you go up the frame.
June 22, 2016 at 2:37 pm
I’m glad you liked it, thank you! I love that as well. I have a few of those. Like about 30! hahaha
June 23, 2016 at 7:04 am
Amazing! Just so gorgeous! My fav, if you can have one, is the second. I think gtonthenet’s description of the light in this image is perfect. Can’t wait to see more, 30 you say! 😉
June 23, 2016 at 7:26 am
Thank you Beth! Oh…I was being funny. I took probably 200 photos but I have only a few left to post. Maybe 1 or 2. 🙂
June 23, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Good to know… 🙂
June 23, 2016 at 9:33 pm
What an amazing glow! I really love these photos.
June 24, 2016 at 7:32 am
It was incredible! Thank you Pam. I’m loving my Sony. Honestly I think I’m liking it better than the Nikon.
June 24, 2016 at 3:36 pm
That’s great. It sounds nice to have the option of a mirrorless. Sometimes I take my older camera because it weighs less.
June 24, 2016 at 6:42 am
OH. MY. GOD. Laura, I was blown away by these pictures. I was just saying to my husband last night when is the last time we saw a sunset because with all the development around us, where once we were able to see the sunset that is no longer possible. OH how I must go to the waterfront to see the sunset now. You’ve got me inspired to do so and I hope to do it soon. I miss seeing the sunset. These images are drop jaw gorgeous!!!! ❤
June 24, 2016 at 7:36 am
Thank you so much! I was SO happy that I had coincidentally scheduled my camera outing on the best sunset day of the year!! And yes…get out there for some glorious sunsets Amy. I really feel so wonderful when I”m standing there enjoying what God has to offer!
June 24, 2016 at 4:30 pm
Oh, Laura, I MUST get to the lakefront. I know of the perfect spot just to sit on a rock and gaze at the sun going down. I would LOVE to do it this weekend, and so, I will talk with hubby to make a plan to. The sky has been SO blue here that I know the sunsets must be dazzling! I am just excited thinking about going!!! ❤
June 24, 2016 at 4:15 pm
Gorgeous shots, Laura! This is easily one of my favorites of yours. Well done.
June 24, 2016 at 5:19 pm
Magical!!! Your students are so lucky of having photo lessons from you!
June 24, 2016 at 9:43 pm
That’s so sweet. Thank you!