Tag Archives: dusk

Twilight, Tuolumne River and Tuolumne Meadows, Sierra Crest

Twilight, Tuolumne River and Tuolumne Meadows, Sierra Crest
“Twilight, Tuolumne River and Tuolumne Meadows, Sierra Crest” — Lenticular cloud-filled twilight sky above Tuolumne Meadows and, Tuolumne River, Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs.

Yes, one more in the series – perhaps the final one, but we’ll see. I suppose it could be titled, “It ain’t over until it’s over.”

After the astonishing colors of the brightest moments of the sunset fade, one might think that the show is over – but often it isn’t quite done. I remember the time I first learned the value of sticking around until it is too dark to photograph any more. This “lesson” happened a bit further west in Tuolumne Meadows many years ago. I was photographing in the evening, shooting across a transitory early-season lake. Another nearby photographer was photographing the same beautiful evening, and he pointed out that some of his favorite photographs actually came after the intense light of sunset and during the time when the light almost begins to feel more like night than day.

Two wonderful things can happen at this hour. First, you may witness unexpected “color surprises” even after the show seems to be over. (I learned this a second time a few years later after packing up at the summit of Lembert Dome and heading down – only to be surprised by a wonderful and completely unexpected suffusion of beautiful light, and having to quickly unpack to squeeze off a couple of exposures.) Second, as astonishing as the earlier brilliant colors are, this is the time for some wonderfully deep and subtle colors that you just won’t see at any other time of day.


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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Brick and Glass Buildings, Evening

Brick and Glass Buildings, Evening

Brick and Glass Buildings, Evening. San Francisco, California. May 26, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Night urban landscape of brick and glass buildings near ATT&T Park in San Francco, California.

Although these brick buildings – at least the larger one in the background – appear to be relatively recent construction, the patterns and textures of the bricks are still interesting to me. As I continue to squeeze every last photo out of my dusk shoot during a Giants game at AT&T past week here is a photograph that I shot as a light was really starting to go. By a combination of an IS lens and very carefully hand holding the camera on the top of a low wall I managed to get a decent exposure without a tripod.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: san francisco, california, sf, att, city, urban, california, usa, sf, giants, at&t, park, ballpark, stadium, brick, glass, building, window, door, roof, skylight, cityscape, urban, landscape, umbrella, wall, door, railing, garage, parking, car, balcony, night, evening, dusk, nocturnal, light, illuminate, stock

Urban Landscape, Dusk – San Francisco

Urban Landscape, Dusk - San Francisco

Urban Landscape, Dusk – San Francisco. San Francisco, California. May 26, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Urban landscape – downtown buildings of San Francisco near AT&T Park at dusk.

This “almost-night” photograph was shot hand held from the upper level of AT&T Park just as the light was getting to the point where shooting this way would have been impossible. This is an urban landscape – and despite the very different subject matter I’ve photographed wild landscape scenes with very similar lighting effects.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: urban, landscape, downtown, center, building, skyscraper, street, light, apartment, condominium, window, sidewalk, sky, dusk, twilight, sunset, blue, reflection, balcony, column, glass, att, park, giants, sf, san francisco, california, travel, scenic, night, city, skyline, scape, vertical, stock

San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, Dusk

San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, Dusk

San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, Dusk. San Francisco, California. May 26, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Dusk over San Francisco Bay, the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and urban areas along the San Francisco waterfront near AT&T Park.

I waited along the upper walkway of AT&T Park (through a couple innings!) to see this subdued dusk lighting as the lights come on along the cables of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge.

Oh, yeah, the Giants won!

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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