Red Rocks Desert Sunset
The setting sun over the mountains in Red Rocks Nevada illuminates the desert revealing incredible beauty in what many see as a wasteland. It's a matter of...
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The setting sun over the mountains in Red Rocks Nevada illuminates the desert revealing incredible beauty in what many see as a wasteland. It's a matter of waiting for the right moment to make your exposure.
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Jan, 2022Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I made this exposure while hiking with my wife in the Red Rocks Canyon National Conservation Are in southern Nevada. In my experience as a landscape photographer, I find that there is nothing quite like the light in the desert. The distances that you can see are astonishing and the clouds always provide added drama to the landscape.Time
Of course, the sun is setting in the west at the end of the day. The last sunrays add drama and excitement to the landscape but the drawback is we had to cut our hike short because of the diminishing light. Darkness descends rapidly in the desert!Lighting
When the sun is setting, I take dozens of exposures. I usually find that the last few I took are the best with the prospect of nightfall coming just moments from the last exposure.Equipment
I shoot with a Nikon D5300. Aperture f/8?ISO 320?Shutter 1/250?Focal Length 18/1?In my camera backpack I carry three Nikon zoom lenses. A 70 to 300 mm telephoto; an 18 to 70 mm and a 10 to 20 mm wide angleInspiration
Having lived most of my life in the forested mountains of Northern New England, I am in awe of the desert environments with the vast treeless vistas. Desert sunsets are among the most sublime and beautiful to be found. I strive to capture the atmospheric glow that warms the desert landscape as often as I can.Editing
Adjustments made involve tweaking the color temperature and adjusting curves and luminosity gives me the image as close to what I remember.In my camera bag
I shoot with a Nikon D5300. Aperture f/8?ISO 320?Shutter 1/250?Focal Length 18/1?In my camera backpack I carry three Nikon zoom lenses; a 70 to 300 mm telephoto; an 18 to 70 mm and a 10 to 20 mm wide angle. I use polarizing filters on all three lenses. I also carry a table top tripod as well as a full sized one. In the dusty desert environment a dust blower, soft sable brush, and lens tissues are a must!Feedback
My photography instructor in the 1960's told me that if I wanted to take some spectacular landscape shots then I must go to where the landscapes are spectacular. Being an avid hiker I recommend that you know were you are going, leave your travel plans with someone so that you can be found if lost or hurt. Bring plenty of water as the desert air is so dry. Find your sweet spot and wait patiently for the best capture you can make. Allow enough time for the return hike! A headlamp and flashlight are a must for capturing the sunsets in remote area!
