One of the reasons I like going down south in the winter (and there are many) is the incredible sunsets in the desert.
It seems like every day is a clear blue sky day with no clouds and then, as the day goes on, the clouds move in just in time for sunset.
There are stages to the sunset that we just don’t get on the coast. Or perhaps it doesn’t happen frequently enough that I noticed the stages before.
The part I like most happens after the sun dips below the horizon. For a quick moment there is still an orange streak on the horizon and just when the sky starts to get darker and you think the show might be over, the underside of the clouds light up and turn an intense shade of red. I like this even more when the clouds break up a little and there is some of the dark purple/blue sky behind them, as the sky gets ready for twilight. You get all the best parts of sunset and twilight in one sky.
It doesn’t happen very often, but every once in awhile all the necessary elements for a perfect sunset align, like it did when I made this desert sunset photo at Joshua Tree National Park.
Please click the image to view a larger version.
I probably go out for a sunset shot 100 times before I get a sky like this. The thing is, it only lasts a moment, and you have to be ready. It’s even better if you can get a subject with an interesting shape in the foreground to form a silhouette.
Beautiful shot. The intensity of that sky is breathtaking! Good work.
I love the colors there. I mean who doesn’t love a great sunset shot. Good work.
Wow, Anne I could look at this all day. Love the colours. Are you offering this for digital download i.e. use as desktop image? If so I think my productivity might be going down :P. Awesome work.
This is way beyond epic, Anne!!! Gorgeous colors here, absolutely top drawer photograph my friend!!
Incredible sunset! Very cool to see an opening in the center! Thanks for sharing!
Incredible shot!
Here in Eastern Iowa, it seems that clouds come creeping in and block the light show at the last minute.
I’m not sure how we can have clear skies one minute and then right as the sun is going down a wall of clouds pop over the horizon.
But even if the clouds don’t cooperate, just being out in nature is a great reward in itself!