This site is dedicated to wildlife and landscape photography.
This site is dedicated to wildlife and landscape photography.
I photographed this coyote yesterday just before the sun set I spotted it about fifteen or twenty minutes before sunset and stayed with it until the sun actually set. It’s my favorite time to photograph wildlife, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that. I assume the light is just ad good at sunrise, but it’s a heck of a lot harder spotting anything to photograph in the dark.
Like most nature photographers, my favorite times to photograph nature are those two hours or so centered on sunrise and sunset. If there are flowers to add color to the scene, so much the better. So, I was happy when this female leopard stopped in this setting for a moment.
It was 6:33pm, one minute after sunset, when I took this photo.
While I went to Kenya last month mainly to photograph the big cats, there were times when I shot other subjects. That was the case with this spotted hyena. I don’t think many people think of hyenas as great subjects to photograph, but this one had the benefit of that golden hour of sunlight like the male lion I posted a week ago. This hyena was photographed at 6:50 a.m. local time. Sunrise was at about 6:30 a.m. then, as I recall.
Guanacos at Sunrise
I was looking at some old photos taken in Torres del Paine National Park when this caught my eye. There were a lot of good landscape photo opportunities, but we were there for pumas. I liked this dawn view of a mother guanaco and her chulengo though.
Corinthian Island is one of two inhabited islands on the Tiburon Peninsula. It straddles a jurisdictional line separating Tiburon and Belvedere, California.
This photo was taken during twilight which is that time between sunset, when reds dominate, and dusk when there is no light (or color) to be seen, except to the extent the moon (or artificial light) is a factor. During twilight, blues become dominant. Twilight is sometimes referred to by photographers and painters as the blue hour or “l’heure bleue.” The length of twilight is determined by the latitude of the observer. Around the San Francisco Bay Area I think of it as lasting roughly half an hour. Twilight is also that time between dawn and sunrise. It is a great time to photograph. It’s also a great time to see wildlife. Some animals are most active during the twilight hours. They are referred to as “crepuscular.”
Next time you plan to photograph at sunrise or sunset don’t forget twilight time. For two good programs to tell you when twilight is for your area, click here and here.
I shot this scene in March of 2009. Spring is a good time to be in Death Valley. The weather is good. Plus, it can be good for wildflowers if you time it right. My favorite spot is Zabriskie Point. It’s best seen at sunrise. If you would like to purchase a print of this image click here.
I took this photo about a month ago at Point Reyes. I can’t remember the exact location, but it was shot around sunset. I usually miss sunrise at Point Reyes, but I try to always be there for sunset. It’s the best of times — for light and wildlife. When the sun starts getting low my senses heighten. It’s a feeling of anticipation. Something is going to happen. Something better happen. I need a good photo. I also know that many of the animals I like to photograph, such as coyotes and bobcats, are up and beginning to hunt. It’s time to crank up the ISO. Time to be steady. 1/30th of a second time. It’s make or break time. If I get a good photo of an animal at that time the day is a success. If I don’t, the day is usually a failure. I try not to let it get to me. But it does. Some. To purchase a print of this image click here.
