Ghost Sun, Sky Blaze

Often, photographers arrive at a desired location for an intended photoshoot and find opportunities in addition to, or in place of the original subject. Good examples of this was waiting for the planet Mercury's greatest eastern elongation appearance just after sunset on March 14 and 15, 2018. Above, the sun, 10 minutes below the horizon on Wednesday, March 14, illuminated a passing cloud and through special atmospheric conditions created a spectacular "false sun." The image was captured from the grounds at Noelridge Christian Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Aperature priority at f/16)

Same thing the next evening on Thursday, March 15. As I waited for the sky to darken and for the planets Venus and Mercury to emerge from behind a cloud-streaked sky (toward the left in the above image) the mixture of ambient light from dusk and the clouds created a breathtaking farmstead scene at 7:48 pm CDT. 0.4-second exposure at f/6.3, 500 ISO and 85mm focal length. Image looks northwest from Radio Road in Marion, Iowa, about one mile east of Highway 13. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.