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Every photographer loves the golden hour, that special time between dusk and dark. Sunsets can be spectacular, unusual and surreal. Since I just got back from Page Arizona to photograph the natural beauty of the area, including of course Horseshoe Bend at sunset, I have decided to collect a few of my favorite sunsets from around the world. Not all sunsets depend on color to make them spectacular, although Horseshoe Bend might be the exception. Often it is the subtle interplay of light and dark, the delicate colors rather than flashy vibrance and it is always about that soft light that fills our senses as the embers of the day play out.
Aswan Egypt
The time around sunset is really sensational in Aswan Egypt. The Nile turns a shade of gold that I have really only seen in Aswan. I think it might be due to the rose colors of the sunset reflecting off the sand that surrounds the river. The effect is most pronounced when you are down on the river, a perfect reason to hire a felucca for the evening show.
Sunset on the Nile
Of course, as you travel down the Nile, the hills of sand recede and give way to a beautiful green riverside with the colors we associate with sunset. The red colors are accentuated due to the dust in the air, just beyond our view.
Istanbul
The blue mosque is at it’s most photogenic at dusk, when the courtyard lights come on. I know this is an iconic photo, and not a true sunset, but it brings me back to the sumptuous pleasures of Istanbul, the food, the sights and most of all the comfortable pleasures of just being there.
Lake Van
The east of Turkey has some amazing landscapes, no where more picturesque than the area around Lake Van. This photo highlights the colorful mountains, lovely trees and of course the lake itself, centered on a man surveying the beautiful sunset.
Hasankeyf Turkey
The ancient, 12,000-year-old town of Hasankeyf is located on the banks of the Tigris River in southeastern Turkey, featuring Neolithic caves, Roman ruins and medieval monuments. Besides being one of the most beautiful places on the Tigris to view the sunset, it will soon be under water due to the controversial Ilısu hydroelectric dam project.
Mont Saint Michel
Le Mont-Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. It is located about one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country’s northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. As of 2009, the island has a population of 44. Even though it is located on the western border of France, the sun does not set behind the abbey, instead always setting to the south.
Saint Malo and Fort National at Low Tide
Nearby is Saint-Malo, a port city in Brittany, in France’s northwest. Tall granite walls surround the old town, which was once a stronghold for privateers (pirates approved by the king). The sunset at low tide is a wonder to behold. The privateers castle is easily visited by beachcombers and the sunset is breathtaking.
Chenanceau
France is known for its natural beauty but Chenanceau at sunset is something you must see. Of course the reason you visit is the Château de Chenonceau and it’s gardens but the surroundings, especially the vineyards, are equally wonderful.
Tasmania
On a cruise around Australia and New Zealand I captured this lovely sunset, just off Hobart Tasmania, enhanced by the wake of the cruise ship. A little grainy but you can see the reason I included it.
Auckland
Sunset is the perfect time to take pictures of cities and practically everything else. Sky Tower is the place to see Auckland at it’s best with sweeping vistas of the city blanketed with the warm tones of sunset.
Cartegena
Cartegena is the epitome of the Caribbean, warm colorful and welcoming. The sunsets however are stupendous works of art, with countless waves reflecting the colors of sundown.
Miraflores
The seasons in Lima (and Miraflores) are very easy described, as the city only has two notable distinctive weather conditions: Summer from December to April and winter from May to November. Most of the time Miraflores is covered with clouds although notably without much rain. This makes for quite beautiful and interesting sunsets with a band of yellow in the distance below the clouds.
Aguas Calientes
Even though Machu Picchu located far above Machupicchu Pueblo or Aguas Calentes receives a fair amount of sunlight, it is almost always gloomy down in the canyon of the Willkanuta river. That is not to say that sunset is any less beautiful. The clouds form over the roiling river and a primal calm locks with the savage landscape.
Montréal
Montréal at night is captivating but the botanical gardens are truly beautiful. The serenity of this scene encapsulates everything I love about Montréal.
Mojave Desert
In a forest of Joshua trees I captured this shot of sundown in the high desert. I could not leave without a photo of my backyard. This comes from Pearblossom highway, just outside Victorville. The photo of Santa Clarita was taken from my children’s house just outside of Los Angeles.
Page Arizona
Well, we are back where we began, in Page Arizona. Big Sky is no stranger to the American southwest and this is just an example. Horseshoe Bend is a spectacular sight when the sun sets, but beauty is all around the place. Well, there are too many sunsets to put in a single post, but this is my self-indulgent list of some of my favorites. I have posts on almost all of these places and I encourage you to explore further. For now, I really hope you enjoyed the post, please leave a comment.
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