Friday, February 01, 2008

Is That A Rembrandt Sunset?

Looks Like Heavenly Colours To Me

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


I've always told budding photographers that the best skies to capture are those just before sunrise and just after sunset, when it looks as if the horizon is aflame. Also, if there's a bit of cloud cover, you know you're in with a chance of some great colours.


Another crucial point is not to fret if there are obstacles in your way - either trees or hills or man-made objects. Just use them as silhouettes to add value to what's composed in your frame.

These shots were taken on Tuesday night, here in Melbourne. No, they're not enhanced in any way - there's no need for technology when Nature shows you utter perfection.

69 comments:

lime said...

breathtaking. i saw a perfect dawn the other day driving my son to school and i didn't have my camera. waaaahhh1 but this is just so stunning

Flassie's Fil'a said...

Wow! Beautiful! As I was coming home from one of my walks and seen a Beautiful Sunset with the brightest of colors in the sky that I had never seen before. The deepest red and turquiose in the mix of colors.

Have a Blessed Happy Healthy
Fun Creative Thinking Year!!!

mielikki said...

ahh. Wish it wasn't storming here, sunset, and sunrise have been hidden for a few days, and the night sky is full of clouds, not stars. . .

Akelamalu said...

Fabulous David!

Casdok said...

Yes wow!! :)

Mima said...

Those sunsets are just amazing with the colours reflecting onto the cloud formations, and as you say beautifully framed!

Some of the shots that I have loved taking most came when I lived in Grand Cayman (Caribbean) for a few years (boatie that I was!), there were the most amazing sunsets and sunrises over and over again, not something that you see very often in the oft grey English skies! I have one lovely sunrise shot which is almost totally purples - sadly now only a photograph after all my negs were lost in a move.

How is it that your kids don't think you are cool enough for Facebook, I think that they are the ones that need a good talking to!

Gawdess said...

Very, very nice, I really enjoyed looking at these pictures.

imac said...

1st class photos David.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

One of my favourite things about visiting your blog is seeing things I would never see otherwise. What an incredible sight.

virtual nexus said...

Rich as velvet. Wish I could have seen it - snow forecast here soon!

Denise said...

Oh my!!!!!!!! B-U-TEE-FUL!!!!! Hello and I am over here from Mary's Writing Nook....... so glad to meet you and I love your accent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahah
Your work is extraordinary !


blessings ........

PS I don't think I have ever met anyone from Australia.

final_transit said...

The colors are really beautiful David! It's not easy to capture the moment at sunrise because the minute the sun apperas, the fun's gone...

Caffeine Court said...

WOW! That is stunningly beautiful!


I love your blog header... "Totally committed to encouraging excellence in others."

Very refreshing.

Autumn said...

Wonderful photos David, Magnificent colors.

Stacy said...

Beautiful, David! That 3rd photo should be framed.

Denise said...

I am so glad that I went over to my SewTheWord blog... I found your comment.......... I hang out more over at my Samaritan Women blog......anyway... I will do the designing on the TEE all I need is input......... soooooo give it your best "shot" and come up with an idea...... Who knows.. it could be yours that win...... anyway... have a great day or evening or whatever time it is there.. It is 3:21 p.m here in Oklahoma and it is sleeting!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!! I love winter....

Patty said...

A very beautiful sunset. Our one daughter loves taking photos of sunsets. You can find them here, http://photographyfordummies.blogspot.com
but you have to scroll down to almost the bottom to view them. She got this new camera, well she's had it for about a year now, but she likes snapping different things. Also likes to make some photos in black and white. Perhaps you have been there before.

Anonymous said...

Fire in the sky!

Pig in the Kitchen said...

God, they're gorgeous! Really not photoshopped? Respec'!
Pigx

Unknown said...

It's lovely to see such a beautiful sunset can come from within the city. A lot of people can think of the city as a drab, colourless place, but this really illustrates the beauty it can have simply by the inclusion of a roof edge in the picture. Marvelous!

David Webb, Photographer

Tom said...

Top Notch David....I always enjoys yours and you have not let me or anyone down with these beauties...

Queen of My Domain said...

Wow such color! Just beautiful.

DeeMom said...

Lovely pictures

Anonymous said...

Those are absolutely stupendous photose. We simply do not skies like that here.

dot said...

Thanks for the picture taking tips! I need all I can get.
Beautiful sky pictures! You can come sign Mr. Linky any time.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

You're right about there being no need for technology. Now, can you explain that to my dad, who took a look at my Yellowstone pictures yesterday and told me I should Photoshop them?

I was offended.

Velvet Ginger said...

Lovely sky photos! I love sunsets, I am a moon & sun &star person anyway.
We have amazing skies here in AZ too.
Thanks for sharing david!

indicaspecies said...

Sky ablaze - fabulous!

Kostas said...

Very good post, the photographs are very good, have hot colours, and transmit romanticism, and calm.

katydidnot said...

wow that sky. at our house we have brit-speak friday where my children and me must speak in cockney accents. it's brilliant! but sky watch might be a good addition.

Sandi McBride said...

It so puts me in mind of the saying I learned from my husband, red skies in morning, sailors take warning, red skies at night, sailors delight...these are such beautiful works of art. I love photography almost as much as paintings (oil, pastels nad charcoal). My son is also a pretty good photographer and I can't wait to send him a link to your blog.
Sandi

A.Bananna said...

Love the pictures! you do an amazing job! have a great weekend!

Sharon said...

These pictures took by breath away! The colors are so vivid! Lucky you to be able to actually see that sight!

Misty DawnS said...

These are gorgeous David! But, you already knew that ;-)

Lana Gramlich said...

Sunsets are truly wonderful. Here's one I posted on my blog a while back. I took it from my living room window years ago in Canada. I've never seen the like since & consider myself fortunate to have had film in my camera at the time.

D... said...

Wow, those shots certainly look like Rembrandts. Absolutely lovely. I really love them.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Wow those are some really great photos of the sky.

Leslie: said...

These are just the sorts of skies I love to lie back and look at from the comfort of a chaise. Course not in this season (winter here). Beautiful...A+

Jules~ said...

Those are absolutely beautiful pictures. What a treat to have the pleasure of seeing such things.
Thank you for the photography tips. I will keep them in my brain for later use.

Silly Goose said...

Incredible!

Juliana said...

wow...nice pics in here. All great :D

My first Sky Watch Friday

RUTH said...

Stunning David and thanks for the tips :o)
Rx

Pernille said...

Wow! Beautiful photo and the color is fantastic!
Have a nice day:)

FO - 2 said...

WOW!
Glowing and burning.
Great captures! :)

Rune Eide said...

Great silhouettes and great "fires"!

ArneA said...

Heaven not equal to heavenly I hope.The colors seam to come from a completely different place. Burning hell.
GREAT !!!
Astonishing.

VP said...

Stunning. I'll be posting a dawn picture on Monday as there'll be a new beginning in our house...

Have a great weekend!

Cuckoo said...

Oh how could a sky be this red ???
Blazing fire !!

BTW, my URL address is changed. You can pls note down the new address.

http://cuckooscosmos.com

Amrita said...

Oooh it really is a Rembrandt sunset. Simply gorgeous.

Nessa said...

The pink was world wide on Tuesday.

Lee said...

Love those sky shots, David. Thanks for the excellent advice on taking sunset photography.

Peace!

SandyCarlson said...

David,
These are gorgeous shots. Such rich color. Thanks for the advice about the found art that steps into our images unbidden!

Marie said...

Your photos are breathtaking!

Anonymous said...

Lovely photos and colours!
Fantastic shot!

Alexander
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

Kerri Farley said...

Beautiful.....looks like the sky was on fire!

Merisi said...

The sky's burning, and you captured it! Congratulations. :-)

Galla Creek said...

It is truly blushing!

Happyone said...

Looks like the sky is on fire. Very dramatic!!

Kahshe Cottager said...

These are just gorgeous! The colour is amazing. I haven't seen the sun in so long .. it seems to be mostly grey skies here this winter.

Suzi-k said...

they are lovely. A dry dusty climate helps too, the dust in the air intensifies the orange shift in the light.

Carole said...

Definitely unique shot. Beautiful color. You are so talented.

bcmomtoo said...

Those are gorgeous colors, David! I love sunrises and sunsets. They always amaze me.

Andree said...

It was participating in Sky Watch Friday that taught me that trees or little things in the photo can add interest. Just like you write! Sometimes I have actually gotten it right, too. It's difficult to believe that is unenhanced. Sunrises/sunsets certainly have been beautiful the past few months. My Skywatch is here. Thank you.

Paulie said...

That is absolutely beautiful! I am so glad I continued visiting sites even tho I am running late with to being just after 10:00 PM my time. . . hope you will still come and see my birds.

Sharon said...

And utterly perfect they are! Beautiful.

Willard said...

Great captures with superb colors!

Unknown said...

God's canvas.

Bob Johnson said...

vemlgmiyBeautiful shots, love sunsets and sunrises!!

Unknown said...

Absolutely gorgeous! I've often wondered how God can put colors together in the sky that if they were painted might look completely different and garish together.