Zion – Twilight
(c) 2011 Nicole Norris
After a day of shooting at Zion, I couldn’t just go back to the hotel and sit around, so I stayed after the sunset to get some twilight photos. This is my favorite time of night to get photos, when the sky is that really rich blue. Above and below are two similar photos, one in black and white and one in color. They were in the beginning of the night when there was still a bit of color on the mountain. The green in the lower corner is actually smoke from someone’s house. I was past the park entrance and a little way into a town, so I had already passed quite a few houses. If you go to my flickr page, you can see all of these photos in a larger size and you can view the stars better.
(c) 2011 Nicole Norris
I was lucky to have a few wispy clouds in the sky to catch a little bit of my eye for the next two photos. I like the contrast of the black mountains and the blue sky and would say that these two are probably my two favorites of the night.
(c) 2011 Nicole Norris
(c) 2011 Nicole Norris
This last photo was taken from the little “hill” (for lack of a better term) on the side of the road where I took most of my photos. The building all lit up in the background is a Howard Johnson – or one of those chain hotels – but built to look like a big log cabin. They build them nice out there. I originally thought when I took this photo that I would put the hotel in shadow and just use the outline of the trees against the sky. But I decided I liked the lights and if I didn’t tattle and tell you it was a HoJo, I figure it looks kind of rustic and cabin-ey. If you look closely at the stars in the upper right-hand corner, you can see one of the dippers. For the stargazers, sorry, I don’t know which one.
- (c) 2011 Nicole Norris
My next set of photos are my overnight star field photos. I got a lot more night photos than I anticipated because apparently it is still too hard for me to accurately tell time. I was up a wee too early in the morning for sunrise. But it all worked out.
I am editing them now and not sure if they are turning out, but will post anyway.
They are very nice images. The best time of the day for photography.
Geoff, I agree. That and sunrise – I like that bright blue that comes before the color as well. (And if there’s some great color afterward all the better!)
I need a new camera. These photos are terrific.
Thanks Ray – it’s the beautiful scenery that makes the photos.