Take a photo of the horizon at sunset

What can we use instead of a tripod if we don't have one?

If you don't have a tripod, use the stack of books, a folded jacket or blanket, a heavy water bottle, or a stable wall as a steady base for your phone as described in the 'set up your tripod or place your phone on the stack of books' step.

My sunset photos come out blurry—what should we check or change?

If photos are blurry, follow the instructions to brace your arms against your body or rest the camera on the books/tripod, tap the screen to focus on the horizon, and use a 2–3 second timer or burst mode to avoid movement when you press the shutter.

How can we change the activity for a preschooler versus a teen?

For preschoolers, an adult should pick a safe open spot and hold the phone while the child taps the screen and presses the shutter, whereas teens can set up the tripod, frame the horizon on the upper or lower third themselves, and take photos every 2–3 minutes for about 10 minutes.

How can we make the sunset activity more creative or longer-lasting?

Extend the activity by using the series of photos taken every 2–3 minutes to make a time-lapse or GIF, add a silhouette foreground during one shot, and edit favorite images before sharing your finished sunset horizon photo on DIY.org.