Capturing the perfect sunset image requires being in the right place at the right time. And a whole lot of luck.
Since moving into my north Phoenix neighborhood in 2016, I’ve experienced well over 500 hundred sunsets on one of my favorite hiking routes in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
As I headed out into the desert about a half-hour before sundown on December 12, 2023, conditions for a gorgeous Arizona sunset were just right.
Experience has taught me that a perfectly clear sky is not the ideal scenario for a beautiful sunset. Clear skies pretty much guarantee that you’ll be able to see the sun slowly drop off the edge of the horizon, but where’s the excitement in that?
Ideal conditions for a memorable sunset (or sunrise)
Over time, I’ve learned that the ideal setting for a sunset that knocks your socks off requires these elements:
- Thin or fluffy low-altitude clouds overhead
- Break in the clouds on the horizon
- Moderate levels of ozone (pollution) in the air
Why clouds help make for a better sunset
If you have a movie projector with no screen, you can’t see the movie. Clouds and other particulates (i.e. pollution) give the sun a sort of screen to project its rays on to. The more interesting the clouds in the sky, the better the sunset is likely to be.
All of the right variables were present as I looked out the window from my home office on the day in question. When my workday was done, I logged out and headed over to the trailhead.
Since I often lead group hikes, the timing, route and pace of my hikes is often dictated by the abilities and hiking pace of others hiking with me. On this particular day, I had no guests with me and was free to move at my own pace on whichever route I chose.
Conditions for an incredibly scenic sunset unfolded before my eyes
A wide blanket of altocumulus clouds stretched from nearly overhead to just short of the western suburbs of Phoenix. Although the puffy, white cotton balls appeared to stand still in real time, I got the sense they were drifting ever so slowly from west to east (distant to near).
Upon arriving at the spot from which I wanted to photograph the sunset, I checked the time and realized that I had about 20 minutes until actual sunset. So, I propped my smart phone upon a miniature tripod and started a time lapse capture. (See the outcome below.)
Timelapse of epic sunset captured from Phoenix Mountains Preserve on 12/12/2023
While my camera took one snapshot every 30 seconds, I continued on the trail to the top of a nearby peak. From the higher vantage point, my instincts were confirmed. A stunner of a sunset was unfolding right before my eyes.
After admiring the view from the hilltop for a few minutes, I negotiated the steep, twisting trail back to my phone. Then I found a flat rock nearby, sat down and waited. And waited some more.
The outcome was worth the wait. I captured so many amazing images, with colors ranging from yellow to orange to pink to purple. This was my favorite of all the images I captured.
Situated in the Vally of the Sun, Phoenix is known for consistently beautiful sunrises and sunset. But every once in a while, conditions in the sky are just right to produce a sunset so amazing it can be described as epic. December 12, 2023 was one of those moments.
Have a great sunset (or sunrise) story?
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