This past weekend, we traveled to the Phoenix area to visit family. Sunday night, the tail end of a strong Pacific storm was passing through the area and I hoped the sunset would be good because of several large clouds and storm cells still moving through the area. I threw my camera bag in the car and drove to Phoenix Mountain Reserve, part of the municipal park system in metro Phoenix.
Once I arrived, I hiked a short distance to a good vantage point, where I could see to the east, and mostly to the west and waited for the light to change. Because of the speed of the storm, conditions in the sky were changing extremely rapidly–usually not remaining static long enough for me to change lenses! As I’d hoped, the sunset was a success.
I’ve written before about the importance of finding your own little wild places. One thing I was grateful for in Phoenix was the ability to escape to an area to shoot beautiful landscape photographs in the middle of a large metropolitan area. I know some cities are incorporating open space initiatives into their long-term planning; I’m not sure what the status of Phoenix’s goals is, but I am grateful for the spaces that are there!
Sonoran Sunset, February 2011
Outstanding. Lovely light!
Nice Greg! With the way the clouds fall out and the light hits the hills, this really has a sweep and sense of motion to it.
Beautiful Greg. It is so nice to find these sanctuaries close to the large cities.
Very nice. It’s always great to come across a bit of the wild in the middle of a big city. Good job making the most of this one.
Thanks for the comments, guys. It really was a special night to be out, and those clouds really did seem to accentuate the drama of the evening. There were still what looked like pretty powerful storm cells moving around me, and the peaks were lit up beautifully.
Such a great night to be out.
Very nicely done.
That is my kind of sky, Greg! Very beautiful.
Sharon