Full Moon Setting at Sunrise

The sunrise this morning was beautiful and challenging to photograph. I have the most trouble when there are dark clouds next to bright clear sky and often some colorful banks of bright clouds. I cannot seem to find a camera setting to maximize all of these competing features. As I looked around me, I noticed a bright spot over Green Mountain and thought to myself that it looked like a hole in the clouds. Then it dawned on me that I was seeing the full moon breaking free of a cloak of cover just as it was about to set behind the mountain. If I had been aware, I would have been looking for the setting full moon. Instead it announced itself with great drama.

"challenging" sunrise!