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WC 462: Arizona Twilight

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted December 13, 2010739 views19 comments

I posted this a while back in ESS, and thought it would fit the WC theme. I did crop about 20% off the top and right this time for a hopefully better comp, otherwise this image is as shot. The AZ sunsets get so brilliant orange it's nutty! SO, two-color sky, a silhouette and a crescent moon... reasonably minimal!

5D Mark II, 100mm 2.8 Macro, hand-held, braced on my car door.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 13, 2010 at 2:49 PM

Beautiful shot - the color gradient in the sky is wonderful, as is that little slice of moon. Well done.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 13, 2010 at 4:19 PM

Paul,
it's the essence of a sunset in AZ. Beautiful image.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 13, 2010 at 4:45 PM

Love this - great sunset, nice silhouettes, and the moon is perfect.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on December 13, 2010 at 7:42 PM

Beautiful glow, the moon is a nice bonus

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on December 14, 2010 at 9:36 AM

This is an AZ. post card. very nice.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on December 14, 2010 at 12:49 PM

I agree with Richard --Post card!

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on December 14, 2010 at 1:07 PM

I agree with Richard --Post card!

LOL! Is that good?

Seriously, thanks all. I just happened to be at the right place, right time.

Funny story: I thought maybe this would be a good submission to Arizona Highways magazine, so I looked up their submission guidelines which basically said "please submit original ideas, not the all-too-typical Saguaro cactus silhouette in the desert at sunset".
ROFL!

Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 14, 2010 at 8:40 PM

Excellent colors and that touch of a moon is gorgeous

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on December 15, 2010 at 2:43 AM

Thanks Luke... yeah, it would sure be boring with no moon at all, almost like an Illustrator drawing, lol.

Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 15, 2010 at 1:43 PM

Actually--i find this fairly 'complex'--now, if you crop the bottom--that's minimal!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on December 15, 2010 at 2:17 PM

SHHHHHH! Careful, the WC judge might hear you!!

Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on December 15, 2010 at 9:17 PM

Hi Paul,
Love it! I wish the moon was closer to the left and a crop slightly more panoramic but those are only minot nits you see when you really like an image.
Really nice.

PS: Between this shot and the Milky Way shot I just ¨clicked¨you and have similar styles, I also like minimalist silhouetted landscapes at dusk and night shots.

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Pam Colander on December 16, 2010 at 12:30 PM

Pure southwest simplicity!

Registered on December 7, 2006, 210 Posts, 1062 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on December 16, 2010 at 4:53 PM

Great colors and I like the silhouette of the fg. Though small, the moon is a nice addition to the scene.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on December 16, 2010 at 11:12 PM

Thanks all, appreciate the kind words. I too wish the moon was a little more left and a bit bigger. That could have been done by moving left and stepping way back and using a 200mm lens, but I've learned that the sunsets here are WAY shorter in duration than what I used to see in Oregon. The sun here drops like a rock... this light probably lasted about 90 seconds! So you plant it and shoot where you are. Planning is key in AZ, that's for sure!

Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 22, 2010 at 4:04 PM

Congrats on EP, Paul. Well deserved.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 22, 2010 at 8:50 PM

Congrats on a fine EP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on December 23, 2010 at 1:46 AM

Monica/Sandy, thanks! I didn't think this would get picked, there are a lot of great images posted.

I still think the gator should have won.

Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on December 23, 2010 at 6:00 PM

Perfect! Love the delicate sliver of moon. Doggone, love the whole thing! Congrats on the Pick.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments