In early September Colorado's skies were filled with smoke from the fires in CA, OR, WA and MT. For about a week it got dark an hour early. I went down to our park several times, hoping for nice red skies, but the smoke was so thick, the sun, and all its light, were just swallowed up. This is taken an hour or more before sunset, looking right over Mt. Evans, from Arvada, CO. No need for a solar filter when you have tons of smoke in the air.
DW

[eaglem]

Smoke creates interesting colours.

[PJ1]

It works well. Nice silhouettes in shades of grey and an orange orb for a focal point makes a great shot.