Boeing 737-700 (N493WN)

Morning sunrise color like this is not an uncommon occurance here, but in order to get a shot like this several actions are required. First, there must be clouds east of the airport when the sun is coming up and although clouds over the Sierra Nevada (west of RNO) are fairly common, clouds over the Virginia Range which is east of the airport are not so frequent in the morning. Then, when there ARE clouds, the sun is coming up and naturally, that happens very early ... so in order to be in position the photographer must get up during the hours of darkness and get to the airport BEFORE the sun begins to come up. Next, the sun rises quite quickly so colors like these only last about 10 minutes at max. And finally, within that 10 minute "window" of time, a plane must take off and rotate at just the right spot down the runway - not too soon but not too late - that, as it climbs, it passes directly between the camera and the colorful cloud. All in all, what I am saying is that this is a rather rare capture for here ... made even more rare because the beacons blinked at just the right instant. I couldn't get another snap like this if I got up at 4:30 AM every morning and went to RNO well before sunrise daily for the next 12 weeks. But, now I don't have to. (Grin)

LOL too funny now we are a Comedian!? 5***** Yes'sir clouds darkness AM or PM you will be challenged, but I think this is very good photo for the AM at RNO...the perfect orange in the Morn! TYVM..

That's a VERY pretty shot, Gary! Well done! And I do appreciate everything you needed to do, or have happen, in order to get the shot!

Howdy, Greg, and Thanx. There was some degree of luck involved; when I got up at Oh-Dark-Thirty to go to RNO, there was no way of knowing there would be the right "type" of clouds over the eastern mountains (Virginia Range); in fact, there aren't clouds over that range very often at all in the AM. So it was only after driving 40 miles to get to the airport that I saw that the stars were not visible to the east meaning that there WERE clouds there. Then the others factors had to just "fall into place" for me. And when those brilliant colors lit up the underside of the clouds, I knew it would not stay that way very long, and I was almost frantic for an aircraft -- ANY aircraft -- to take off while the colors were still there. I was waaaaay pleased when this SW took off. By the time this same jet disappeared from my view, these colors were fading away.

Gary - well done! This is stunning with the beautiful sky lighting at dawn. All 5!

Well, luck or not, it turned out pretty darn well! And you're welcome!