When the sun goes down…

Sunset, Yachats, Oregon

…I keep shooting! I really like the look and feel of landscape photographs made after the sun has set. The long exposure time and the cool light of the evening sky create an interesting feel. It is not the usual colors of the daytime that we are so accustomed to seeing. It is also not something that is easy to photograph. I have had to train my eye to see as the camera sees. Focusing can become an issue as well as it gets dark. Knowing how much to adjust the exposure to brighten the image up just enough to show depth and feeling, but not going too far so as to create a “daylight” kind of look. Then there is the challenge of motion, as the long shutter speeds will record anything that moves as a blur. All of these issues can work together for the good of the image, or just as easily destroy it. Learning to make it work is a challenge that when mastered opens up the door to creativity and self expression in a way unlike any other. It has brought new life and vision to me as a photographic artist.