Category Archives: Sunset

Saturday night sunset

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I arrived late to a friend’s tailgate party southeast of Bismarck last night due to some freelance video work in the afternoon. I knew it would be getting cold, so I stopped at home to exchange a motorcycle for a truck (besides, motorcycles don’t have tailgates) and work my way out of town. When I got there I simply had to hike to a suitable vantage point for this sunset. I could see it beginning to develop before the sun even got to the horizon, so I waited with my 10mm wide angle lens.

I was hoping that the color would cast across all the wispy clouds at the top, but that wasn’t the case. No matter; it was still a very dramatic show! I hung around until the colors began to wane, packed up my gear, and proceeded to find a warm place to restore the feeling in my fingers. It was a fantastic treat so witness such a nice sunset, something that’s been missing in my life lately. I’m not the only one who saw this, as I’ve seen some other pictures pop up on Facebook and elsewhere. I’m glad we all got to share it!

Tall sunset

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The sunsets of this weekend provided quite a variety of color, but the key is being there at just the right instant! The sun sets quickly once it nears the horizon, and an ambitious photographer needs to be in position for that fleeting moment. I wasn’t the only one staked out on the hill overlooking the now-closed Meriwether’s on this particular evening.

Doesn’t it seem like it gets dark early now, and didn’t that sneak up on us suddenly? Wow!

Respite

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I had originally considered writing something more along the lines of prose, something like “Ode to My Shop Vac” after the battle against Tuesday’s surge of water. We escaped without any major damage (wet carpet remnants in the laundry room), but it was a hard fought battle. Combine that with gutters full of those stupid little elm seeds, and I’ve had a busy week fighting water. So tonight I thought I’d photograph it instead.

My wife was tired and went to bed when the boys did, and she instructed me to go ride motorcycle or go out with my camera or something. I did both. After a great photo jaunt west of Mandan, I came home and got the big Suzuki out for some carving. Most of the time I wear one of my full leather racing suits when I’m out, because I’ve lost enough skin since I started riding at age 5 or 6. Wow, it’s been a long time. Anyway, tonight was absolutely comfortable in leathers. I had a fantastic time. Now for some shut-eye before putting a wrap on the work week!

I got a lot of fantastic pics, but I’m only posting this one before bed. I was out in the middle of nowhere for much of my photo trip (and picked up my first wood tick too!) but caught this sight along Highway 25, north of Roby’s Supper Club. Home of the best Filet Mignon I’ve ever had, by the way. Mmmmmmm….steak. I know what I’m grillin’ for dinner Friday!

Thankfully the ring of storms threatening Bismarck tonight were miraculously whisked away, leaving instead an awesome night for a guy to take out his camera and motorcycle. I’m so glad I have a wife with such good ideas!

Update: got my first wood tick from this excursion too, and I”m not surprised. I spent a lot of time in the tall grass. Also, have you noticed that “respite” is one of Kevin Lawrence’s favorite words during the weather? You will now…

Wednesday night sunset

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I don’t get to chase many sunsets anymore these days…but here’s one, taken from a unique vantage point north of Bismarck. I’m not saying where. I was pleased to find the horizon clear this evening when I set out, and the parting clouds made for some interesting beams of light and shadows in the sky above!

Front row seat

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If you find yourself on Promontory Drive, you may notice this lone little tree standing in a vacant lot. It’s been visible in a number of my sunset photos in the past year or two, and it’s grown quite a bit since I first saw it. Now there’s a chair under it. It’s a ratty chair, but it is well placed nonetheless.

When the spring sunset arrives, this chair is a prime place for viewing. Somebody had their thinker cranked up to MAX when they put the chair here. They apparently consume a lot of energy drinks too, judging by the cans I saw next to the chair.

This isn’t the first time someone’s deposited a piece of furniture in this area. Before the roads came this far out, there was a dusty old double-track trail leading to the edge of the hill overlooking River Road. At the end of that road was just enough clear space to turn around, and occasionally a sofa or chair of some sort. Things are a little more accessible now that there are paved roads, but this is just a continuation of times past. Obviously I’m not the only one gazing at the sky around here!

We pulled off a sunset after all

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I wasn’t sure we’d see a sunset tonight, with the clouds rolling in and all that. Imagine my surprise when I looked up from my yardwork to see the sky begin to fill with splashes of color! I had an errand to run anyway, so I figured I’d bolt out and grab a quick photo, since my camera time has been quite limited as of late. I also haven’t taken many photos of the capitol lately. Then the color fled as quickly as it had arrived, I got my errand done, and it was back home to the yard work…and a little bit of Photoshop.

Watching the waning

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I took quite a few photos of this arrangement with my wide angle lens, kneeling in the snow. Even though I was getting cold, I knew the cardinal rule of photographing sunsets: much of the drama of a sunset occurs after the sun goes over the horizon. Thankfully I had this solitary windmill to keep me company. I prefer to think of this photo as capturing the windmill as it witnessed the setting of the waning sun.

These beautiful colors lasted mere seconds as the sun hit the perfect point, splashing color and shadows simultaneously across the clouds. This is the sliver of time that makes North Dakota sunsets so memorable, and it requires some keen timing and a bit of preparation. They’re still the finest sunsets I’ve ever seen, which is why I never tire of chasing them and posting them here.

Out with the fellas tonight

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My little boys wanted Daddy to take them out in the truck tonight, so out we went. They got to see their share of trucks and heavy equipment and snowblowers, and Daddy go to stop and take a picture of the sun setting. They’re both old enough to walk now, one of ’em is talking up a storm, and we’re both sick of winter. That combines into a chance for some more photographic opportunities these days, as we’re actually getting out of the house more. The sunsets are starting to resemble summer more than the bluster of a North Dakota winter!

This only happens twice a year

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My friend Pat gave me the heads up this week: for one night only, when viewed from his front porch, the silhouette of the capitol building appears centered on the sun. That night was tonight. Even though I had to stretch the limits of my longest telephoto lens from his house southeast of town, I think things turned out pretty well.

This also happens a little bit before June 21st, the longest day of the year. I wasn’t able to catch it at that time. Last year the weather conspired against me and I wasn’t able to catch either occurrence, so tonight was a pretty good treat.

I actually tried last night, but the sun was still a little above the horizon when it crossed the capitol building. It looked like a lollipop of sorts. I may still try to get another shot tomorrow night, with only a portion of the sun behind the capitol building. I’ll have to do it one minute earlier than I did tonight, however; we lose a minute of daylight every day now.

Sunday night’s all right for setting

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I didn’t see much more sunset than this, as thick clouds rolled in along the horizon. That left me no alternative but to go get some wings with a friend from Reno. Some days I think that it’s too cliche’ to take photos of the capitol, since I’ve done so much of it, but then there comes a unique opportunity like this one from last night.