Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Sometimes it's hard to predict what the evening sky will be like. Actually, let me amend that sentence. Most of the time, it is utterly impossible to work out what the sunset will be like.
But on Tuesday evening, when I took this sequence of shots, I knew we were in for something quite extraordinary. There was a clear horizon. There was a flaming sun. And there was a smattering of cloud. That's generally when you get some great colours, after the sun has sunk below the horizon.
Still, nothing can prepare you for the swiftness with which the colours ebb and flow - or how dramatically they appear. Nor can anything prepare you for how swiftly they vanish, leaving just grey streaks.
You have to be quick, you have to be decisive - and most of all, you have to be lucky. In this case, I was able to use the nearby plane trees as silhouettes, to highlight the sulphurous yellow that flickered across the wide expanse of Australian sky.
When I took this sequence of shots, there were several people on their evening walk. They were all concentrating on negotiating the hills, or lost in the music of their iPods, or simply engrossed in thought.
Not one of them was looking at the sky. Truly, I think they missed the best part of the day.
For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.
Hi my friend, beauty in the sky from you David ( as always).
ReplyDeleteMines up too now.
Amazing photograpgs, David, the sky seems to be on fire. I have never seen a yellow sky.
ReplyDeleteThose are truly amazing shots. I don't ever think I've seen a sky quite that color. I'm grateful that you shared these photographs, David, and even though you're in Australia, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteSheila
What a gorgeous sky. It's hard to imagine that it could go unnoticed but I know the frustration well, as evidenced by my recent post to which you so kindly linked yesterday. Their loss and our gain, thanks to you. :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame that most people nowadays are so caught up in their own little lives not to notice all the true beauty of nature all around them!
Open your eyes people! There's a wonderful world outside of your iPods and mega-broadband connections!
That is pretty incredible, David. Never seen a sky that colour.
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
What the Americans would call: a high WOW-factor! You promised some exceptional sunset pictures and you delivered.
ReplyDeleteLesson: Be prepared, use your eyes and forget your I-pod.
Mine is here.
all lemony...unusual and stunning colour!!
ReplyDeletewe'd love skies like that here but then fear your flames might cause the forest fires you fear there.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they sure did miss the best part of the day. I took some sunset shots, too, and they'll be up a bit later. Hope you like them.
ReplyDeleteSaturday, "we" are going on a photo safari up Grouse Mountain to Lynn Valley to take shots of the mountains and a particular waterfall up there. So keep a watch out for those photos.
Have a great weekend! :D
You do get some awesome sunsets in your part of the world! I love the colors when the sun is shining on the underside of the clouds. And the colors sure do change fast.
ReplyDeleteGreat catch! Happy Sky watch Friday! Wishing you a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteA hot and dry summer. I forgot what summer was until I saw these splendid photos. Thanks for warming up my Thanksgiving, David!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful colour sky.
ReplyDeleteA
Absolutely glorious! The yellow sky is a almost unreal. What great shots! Thanks, David!
ReplyDeleteHi David these pictures are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAll of the lovely colours, including the Plane trees, are so complimentary to each other.
Thank you for sharing.
I like you, wish that unaware people would take more time to stop and look at what nature is showing us, free of charge and of such quality, I feel.
Beautiful series with wonderful uncommon colors!
ReplyDeleteWow! It really does look as if the sky is on fire!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get some water into the Darling River!
Only in Australia can we get colours like that! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteHow magnificent!
ReplyDeleteI agree, looking up carries great rewards, congratulations on this extraordinary set of sky images.
Absolutely amazing! I have never seen a yellow sky like that. Here we are more familair with a grey sky.
ReplyDeleteThose are truly incredible!! Love them........
ReplyDeleteTruly golden shots!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Klaus
I love these: yellow's a colour we never get, but it's gorgeous. The tree silhouettes make it even better.
ReplyDeleteThanks too for the description of everyone walking past not even noticing it all. Wonderful post!
Happy SWF!
Very interesting colours. We had a stunner last night after the storm and the rainbows. Just beautiful. That yellow is very unusual.
ReplyDeleteWe get golden but not flaming yellow.
ReplyDeleteIt's like molten lava. A volcanic sky.
David: Spectacular yellows in your skies on this wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteWow, I have never seen such beautiful yellow skies! Happy SWF. :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos. The sky looks on fire. How can anyone not notice? Never seen such a yellow sunset.
ReplyDeleteWe have about half an hour of twilight from sunset before it gets dark.
Great shots and amazing colours.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely composed, too.
Have a nice weekend, David.
Cheers John.
The are gorgeous skies. It's a first time I seen it in yellow though!
ReplyDeleteWonderful color. Nice SWF
ReplyDeleteGreat shots as alwasy david, I am very impressed with those unique colors.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Regina In Pictures
and who says that the sky is blue??
ReplyDeletelovely photos!!
My SWF#4
You are so right, most folks are busy rushing through life and forget to look up to see what is going on around them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these colourful views of the sky with us all in Sky Watch Friday.
Amazing - don't think I've ever seen that color in my sky - ever. Love that you're there to capture stuff like this for the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever seen sky so yellow. What a spectacular sky.
ReplyDeleteSharon
Gorgeous shots and it does look like the sky is on fire.
ReplyDeletei like these shots...the golden yellow is so beautiful.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing them with us at skywatch:)
Stunning, David.
ReplyDeleteAs always.
A truly firey sky. Nice series. You're so right about how dramatically fast the sky changes.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteBeen awhile since I last visited. Good stuff as usual.
Cheers,
Scotty
I don't think I've ever seen a sky that color! That's amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing golden yellow! Love how the changing shapes of the clouds almost make a pot of firey gold!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are so wonderful.I love the yellow color. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
the yellow, golden yellow, is stunning!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful lemony sky! Great captures. It's good that you were looking up. :)
ReplyDeleteIncredible! You're right about people missing out on their day when they don't look up. Hopefully they won't go through life that way. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous photos of a most unusual sky ... lovely series of shots!
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
Sumptuous, sulfurous indeed! Gorgeous shots for SWF, David!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots.
ReplyDeletelionsmane
Wow...I have never seen colors like that in our sky...
ReplyDeleteThe most amazing colors you photograph !!! sandy
ReplyDeleteLooks like pure gold in the sky, David. How amazing the light is there in Australia!
ReplyDeletePeace - D
Lovely yellow clouds. This color may not be unusual in Australia, but I don't recall seeing yellow skies here except prior to tornadic activity. Your photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat's an amazing color in the sky, and you captured it beautifully. I hope you'll publish a book of your photographs someday. (If you have already, I'd love to know it.)
ReplyDeleteGoodness sprinkled upon you.. Thanks for the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThey did miss the best part of the day! Stunning!
ReplyDeleteBTW,the word verification says:
parte