azkatrose

Field Goal Sunset

I took this sunset photo in July 2013, in an area just north of Tucson. The view of the sun setting between the 2 young saguaros reminded me of a field goal - ...
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I took this sunset photo in July 2013, in an area just north of Tucson. The view of the sun setting between the 2 young saguaros reminded me of a field goal - "3 points" - in football.
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NIKON D3100

settings

Aperture f/16 ISO 400 Shutter 10/1000 Focal Length 180/10

upload_date

Jul, 2015

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390

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+21

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Great phototure and love the colors of an Arizona sunset!

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Behind The Lens

Location

I took this photo from a vantage point a little north of Tucson, AZ - a spot I'd noticed on previous walks & drives. I thought it might be a good spot for a sunset photo since it had a nice clear view (with the 2 young saguaros to frame the sun or clouds) to the west.

Time

I love colorful sunsets and sunrises, so when I can I try to pay attention to whether we had wind during the day (dust = colors) and how the clouds appear in the last half hour or so before sunset. That day seemed very promising, so I drove to this area, then this particular spot, and waited. Took a few shots as the sun went down, from slightly different angles, but this was my favorite - altho there was a LOT of color, the sun was also still visible. Sometimes the best colors are right after the sun has disappeared from view.

Lighting

I just kept watching the colors developing in the sky, and kept shooting. Sometimes the best sunset colors happen just before or after the sun actually sets. This time, it happened right at the same time.

Equipment

This was shot using my Nikon D3100 with the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens - handheld (no tripod for this one), no flash, as I wanted the saguaros to be in silhouette.

Inspiration

During some hikes, I had discovered some good spots in that area to take sunset photos. The residential streets in that neighborhood are slightly elevated over the few houses & a school nearby, allowing for a mostly good clear view of the western sky, altho some areas had more saguaros in various sizes, plus lots of mesquite and creosote blocking views. As I started snapping photos that night, I realized I could position myself so that the sun was exactly between the 2 young adult saguaros - perfectly balanced. While I was snapping this one, a nighthawk flew over my head, and a bobcat crossed the desert about 50 yards to my right. (I DID get a dark & slightly blurry photo of the bobcat, but should have used the flash for that one....) Altho I was briefly alarmed, I then realized - "it's a sign" of how much I love the desert!

Editing

I don't do much post-processing on any of my photos, but I DO sometimes crop photos for a better image balance, or to help redirect the true focus of the image. For this one I just cropped a tiny bit off the borders, and enhanced the overall color a little - wanting a tiny bit more red without affecting the blue/violet sky.

In my camera bag

Altho I still have the 3100, now I usually carry my Nikon D3400 with both lens that came with the camera, plus a spare battery and spare SD card, a microfiber cloth, a hood for the lens, the wireless remote, and sometimes a small tripod. I also have a tiny pair of foldup readers (glasses) altho they are less for the camera and more for other uses. For hikes I sometimes use a unipod for a hiking stick, so I have it handy for photos.

Feedback

Depending on what you are trying to photograph, scout and plan ahead! Specifically for sunsets and sunrises, search for somewhat clear views of the sky, and esp the sun, and pay attention to the other things in view, like trees, buildings, signs, electrical or phone towers and cables, etc. Be aware some things can change with the seasons. Pay attention to the weather - is it cloudy or are clouds expected? And breezy or windy days and nights can produce the dust that, hours to a day or more later, gives the clouds so many colors. HAVE FUN!

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azkatrose

azkatrose

Field Goal Sunset

I took this sunset photo in July 2013, in an area just north of Tucson. The view of the sun setting between the 2 young saguaros reminded me of a field goal - ... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow azkatrose

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I took this sunset photo in July 2013, in an area just north of Tucson. The view of the sun setting between the 2 young saguaros reminded me of a field goal - ...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.