Sunset at Sandia Mountains ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sunset at Sandia Mountains ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sunset at Sandia Mountains ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Mar, 2017Views
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Mdj635
April 03, 2017
This is always one of my favorite sights; I live less than 2 miles from the base of the Sandias. :)
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of the best things about New Mexico is that most of the state is high desert. Albuquerque is our biggest city, and its elevation is about 5,000 feet. This small mountain range is known as the Sandias which is the Spanish word for watermelon. It is so named because of the luminous pinks, oranges, and purples the mountains turn as they reflect the sunset. At their highest point, the mountain stands at approximately 10,000 feet. We have great light and open space in which to photograph here.Time
This is a hard question as I took this photo quite a few years ago. Judging from the color of the mountains and the sky, I would say this was about 6 or 7 pm in the early to mid summer. I am guessing June or July.Lighting
I didn't do anything with the lighting of this photograph. It was shot using natural light. I guess what I would say about lighting is to pick the right time of day, or, in this case, early evening to take the shot. Think about what you are trying to capture, what you are wanting to portray to people viewing the photo, what emotions are you trying to elicit, etc.Equipment
I took this photo with an old Nikon Coolpix, if I remember correctly. I do not believe that I had my Nikon D80 at the time. So, this was a handheld, no tripod, no changing of the lens type of shot.Inspiration
Quite honestly, the color of the sky and the mountains inspired this photo. I am highly influenced by the radiance and luminous nature of the colors created by the sun as it rises and sets. I "feel" light and color, if that makes any sense. And, when I have the opportunity to share it with others, I take it.Editing
I did not do any post-processing on this image as at the time, I was unaware there was a concept as post-processing at the time. So, this is the raw image as taken.In my camera bag
A Nikon D80, a 50mm 1.4/f lens, a spare battery, and extra SD cards. I swap lenses as necessary for what I am shooting, or the effect I am aiming for. I don't have a real large bag so I have to consolidate.Feedback
Don't wait until the sun has started to set because then you have a very limited window depending on time of year, and where you are in the world. Set up about an hour before, and wait until the sunset starts to happen. Then you can shoot whenever the light and color are what you are looking for. A more dramatic sky is a great help, as well, as clouds can literally glow as the sun goes down.
