Friday, February 08, 2008

Purple Sky At Night Is A Painter's Delight

But I Took The Easel Way Out

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


These photographs were taken late on Monday evening. I was out and about for a while, but there didn't seem to be any chance of great colours in the sky. Then things changed, very suddenly. This was the first shot I took (above) in a series of about eight or ten frames. I was captivated by the appearance of a colour that I can only describe as saffron.


Then the saffron seemed as though it were suffused with gold (above) and these bands of colour materialised across the clouds. I realised that I needed a couple of quick vertical frames to capture the beautiful colour gradient.


Interestingly enough, the time elapsed between the first and last shot was only three minutes.

73 comments:

Corey~living and loving said...

OH I love how much color you have in the sky there. It is rare to get such fabulous sunsets here.

thanks for sharing David.

Sam Fox said...

These beautiful images were just the ticket to start my day today, David. Thankyou so much for the touching comments on my blog, and even though we have never met, I feel your support and friendship. We both welcome your prayers with much gratitude. Bless you.

Charles Gramlich said...

The colors create a very "alien environment" feel. Very beautiful.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

There really is something almost other worldly about those striations of colour. Beautifully captured, David.

WH said...

Fanastic shots, David! Stunningly beautiful, and a bit haunting almost. You have a great blog. I've added you to the links on my two blogs if that's okay. I'd like to come back to visit.

Tom said...

Fantastic captures.. this really are stunning.

Kat said...

Wow! Those colors are amazing. Absolutely brilliant!
I did a post (one of my favs) about my dad dealing with Alzheimer's back in November and reposted it in January for the first Scrolling Saturday. It is such a horrible disease.
I'd love to hear your story. Perhaps you could write a post about it as well.
Thank you for your support. I get nervous writing things like that when I know there are professional writers out here (such as yourself) who will be reading it. Thank you for your kindness.

http://fritterfarmers.blogspot.com/2008/01/first-of-scrolling-saturday.html

I, Like The View said...

gorgeous

:-)

Casdok said...

What a difference three minutes makes.
Wonderful.

lissa said...

Guess you're one day ahead where you cause it's still Thursday here.

All lovely shots - the color is just so beautiful. The sky does change so fast, one has to be real quick in capturing the moments.

OHmommy said...

David... what beautiful photos. The colors are stunning. Amazing, really. You have such talent.

And you are witty, too!

"Lots of people find it hard to digest what's in the (news)papers!!"

I was on the floor. Laughing!

lime said...

it's amazing how quickly the sky can change!

Anonymous said...

Works of art! The layers of the tones is amazing.

Thanks for sharing them.

Elizabeth said...

Hi David, thanks for stopping by via Merisi, nice to 'meet you' :-)
These photos are beautiful, such amazing colours: if they had been in a painting it would have looked unreal and idealised. I am always amazed at how beautiful, dramatic and powerful nature's colours can be.
Thank you for some great photos.
by the way, I tried to follow the links you recommended but couldn't find find Chewy in your links - help!

FHB said...

Absolutely stunning! Beautiful job.

Gawdess said...

I like these and how they track that ephemeral quality of sunset

Jo Beaufoix said...

Wow, those are stunning. I thought I loved the second one, then it got better. You chose a beautiful perspective David.

Lana Gramlich said...

Lovely photos. Yes, sunsets are an exceedingly fleeting affair. I've found (in some cases,) if I pause just a few extra seconds, my shot is lost.

imac said...

Beautiful Sky Watch photos David.


My Sky Watch up now

katydidnot said...

couldn't even be painted better. great photos.

Sandi McBride said...

Isn't it wonderful how night skies look the same world over? I was just out watching the geese gather in the sky to go to their nesting place...the sky looked very much like this...beautiful...
Sandi

Craver Vii said...

Positively glorious! I have to laugh though, because folks on your side of the rock are already celebrating TGIF. It's still Thursday here. And when I looked at that wonderful sky, I remembered what our sky looked like on Monday afternoon and evening. We had a fog as thick as I have ever seen! ...so I took pictures. :-)

Enjoy our Friday, your warm weather and beautiful skies. As long as you write about them, I feel I can enjoy them vicariously.

Sharon said...

Those are truly beautiful! The colors are sooo.... indescribable.

dot said...

It's amazing how quickly the sky changes. I like the tree with the two little points on top!
I'm adding your name to Mr. Linky.

Kostas said...

Splendid colours in the sky, marvellous comment, amazing post.

SandyCarlson said...

That last photo in the sequence is quite the finale! The colors are so intense. I enjoyed seeing the subtle transformation. Thanks for taking the time to capture it and share it. God bless. (And I enjoyed the pun in the post title.)

Patty said...

Beautiful, just beautiful

D... said...

I'll agree. Those colors are very captivating. So beautiful.

Carole said...

I don't believe I've ever seen colors quite like these. You've captured a very special sky.

Andrea said...

Stunning...beautiful....fantastic.
Great shots

DeeMom said...

Perfect word Saffron. Wonderful pictures

Lilli & Nevada said...

The colors are so beautiful. Amazing how many colors there can be in a sunset

Leslie: said...

Wow! love the colours - golds and purples together. Gorgeous!

Meggie said...

Wow! goregous colors!!

Misty DawnS said...

Oh yes, I know how quickly the sky can change. If you saw my photo of the purple sky that I posted, I have a photo that looks identical to that, but the sky is gold. When people see both photos, they think I altered one of them, but, honestly, I didn't. The sky changed that quick.

Petunia said...

So beautiful! I also have pictures of sunsets today...

Anonymous said...

As usual you take brilliant dawn and dusk snaps. The colours are fantastic.... Siddharth

Am'n2Deep said...

Breath-taking David!!

Juliana said...

oh boy....all photos are beautiful :D

Will you visit my Sky Watch #2 Thanks.

Leanne said...

g'day tom yuo too David, from cold and wet UK! thanks for visiting my blog! I love your sunrise pics, i have some on my blog if you scroll down a bit, not professional photography like yours, just me with a little camera and a love of nature!

leanne x

FO - 2 said...

Beautiful "paintings",
made with a great palette. ;)
Great colours.

Anonymous said...

fantastic sky and colors

Marie said...

Wow! Those colors are beautiful. Absolutely amazing!

Pernille said...

Wow!!! I just love you photo to day:)

Anonymous said...

your sky is truly a painter's delight! have a nice day.

ArneA said...

the light down under is complete different from the northern light this time of the yeay.
Very beautiful. Fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Lovely color. Safran beats purple to day.

Berit T said...

I love the color, fabulous!!!

Michael Serafin-St. John said...

I feel at a loss for words after all the swell comments, but here goes: Lessons?
One: Always have a camera ready.
Two: Shoot, and keep shooting.
Three: Pray.
Four: Enjoy!

Wonderful stuff from Down Under!

RUTH said...

We can always be sure of fabulous Sky Watch photos from you David :o)
Rx

Randi said...

I cant find word too describe how much i love your sky watch !!
Incredible, wonderfully, stunning ....:))

gaz said...

that last one is stunning.

Sameera Ansari said...

Those were some real fabulous shots!Nature can really be fascinating if we take the time out.

Nice blog you have here :)

Rune Eide said...

Things happen fast at night...

maryt/theteach said...

David, absolutely beautiful colors in those sunsets! Aren't we lucky to experience such phenomena! Thanks for sharing!

Daryl said...

If my voice wasnt going I would be cheering these, they are just fabulous

duopastorale said...

Love that last one!
My Skywatch

Michael Serafin-St. John said...

Be well and happy and have a good weekend, David!

Unknown said...

Wow David! Now those are some very beautiful photos! Really nice work. Thanks for sharing them.

Max Coutinho said...

David,

Such gorgeous photographs: I loved their colours! Specially the saffron in the sky!

Our skies get pinkish here: a lovely sight! One day, when you visit Portugal, you will be able to take pictures from our lovely skies and landscape (you'll love it) :D!

Cheers

Suzi-k said...

this was one awesome sunset! and the trees silouetted against it are so lovely.

Joyismygoal said...

the trees look like castle spires

HildeS/Frøken Fryd said...

Wow, just beautiful:)

GAWO said...

So different from the Norwegian winter light. Very beautiful.

virtual nexus said...

Fantastic colour blends -

we had a great winter sunset tonight with plum, turquoise and peach - seem to have had a few like this recently.

Fortunately was in the right place at the right time as well to catch some of it.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

WOW! These are wonderful, so richly hued.

Silly Goose said...

These photos look almost like they were taken on another planet! Very unusual and lovely.

Mima said...

My fav of the bunch is the first one, the colours are just beautiful, and thanks for sharing.

Andree said...

Unbelievable that it changed that much in three minutes. What stupendous photos. I'm wracking my brain trying to remember if I have ever seen bands of gold or purple in the sky. I must (because I'm old enough!) but I can't remember!

My Sky Watch is here. But it is the same scene, different view of PH Heavy. Thank you.

Aine said...

Saffron, indeed!

The first photo is how I imagine the landscape on Mars (in a purely science fiction fantasy, of course!)

Thanks for capturing and sharing!

mindyluwho said...

I love the pictures you take of sunrises and sunsets. You capture the colors so beautifully.

Dick said...

Hi David

Great view, I like the landscape in the background, unknown things it seems. I'm a little late commenting, so many skywatchers.

Katie McKenna said...

Stunning photos!