The Sunset Project 2011
I love sunsets.
My favorite time of day is when the sun begins to sink in the western sky, and the bright light of day melts into the beauty of the evening to come. The day seems to slow down, and mellow. The fading light often plays with clouds, landscapes and the horizon to create beautiful and memorable montages of light and color.
That's what makes me a sunset guy.
In 2011 I'm going to take as many photos around sunset as possible and post them here in Updraft.
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I'd like to say I can get all 365 days but with my schedule that's not going to happen. There's just too many travel, severe weather and other days where I'll be unable to sneak away from the microphone and do a photo justice near sunset time. I'll try to take as many photos as possible within an hour of sunset and document them here. You can click on the photos for bigger images.
I'll post the location and time of the photo, and the local sunset time that day. I'll also highlight any additional interesting information I can include. I'm not a professional photographer so I expect a mix of some clunkers, decent shots and maybe a gem or two.
I hope you enjoy my look at sunsets 2011.
PH
Date: January 1, 2011
Location: Phoenix, AZ Sky Harbor Airport
Time: 3:05pm MST
Local sunset time: 5:31pm
Temperature: 48 degrees
Weather: Bright sun
Comments: Took this shot well before sunset waiting for a flight home to MSP. Bright, sunny but chilly day by Phoenix standards. South Mountain in the background with the TV & radio towers on top.
Date: January 3, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:00pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:44pm
Temperature: 19 degrees
Weather: Light snow
Comments: Light snow in the hour before sunset at the Weather Lab. The sky, trees and smoke plume gently rising from the chimney all say deep winter. Note the deep snow cover on the rooftop. It's definitely January in Minnesota.
PH
Date: January 4, 2011
Location: Lake Minnetonka, MN near Bug Island
Time: 4:25pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:45pm
Temperature: 8 degrees
Weather: Arctic sun, light wind.
Comments: Classic winter sunset on Lake Minnetonka. Brisk, calm arctic air. Ice house village ready for sundown on a frozen Minnesota lake in January.
Date: January 5, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN (west metro)
Time: 4:25pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:46pm
Temperature: 16 degrees
Weather: Mid level clouds-light NW wind
Comments: Clouds rolled in just before sunset. Faint sun glows through broken cloud deck. Bare trees (Fleetwood Mac?) exudes deep winter feel.
Date: January 6, 2011
Location: St. Paul, MN
Time: 4:15pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:47pm
Temperature: 16 degrees
Weather: Gray
Comments: State Capitol from MPR 5th floor deck. Nice urban balance with white snow cover & overcast skies. Daylight noticeably longer now (especially on clear evenings) in the evening as we're gaining a full minute on sunset each day.
Here's a great link for tracking sunrise & sunset times anywhere.
Date: January 7, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:30pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:48pm
Temperature: 10 degrees
Weather: Mixed clouds, chilly breeze.
Comments: "California Dreamin'" scene on a Friday evening. Chilly breeze and sun fading into low broken clouds at sunset.
Date: January 8, 2011
Location: Lake Minnetonka, MN
Time: 4:35pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:49pm
Temperature: 3 degrees
Weather: Bright sun, clear, calm & cold.
Comments: Classic arctic sunset on a frozen Minnesota lake. Sun is setting behind Minnetonka Yacht Club on Lighthouse Island at the mouth of St. Louis Bay on the eastern end Lake Minnetonka. I like how the light streams radiate out through the openings between the spruce trees illuminating the snow cover. MYC has a weather station you can access here.
Date: January 9, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:35pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:50pm
Temperature: 13 degrees
Weather: Sun fading into high clouds. Light east wind at 5 mph.
Comments: Why not a "twofer" today?
1st Photo: "Inner" Carson's Bay on Lake Minnetonka looking SW through shoreline cattail marsh. Sun fading into 10k foot cirrus shield overcast moving in ahead of approaching low pressure. Slight reflection gleaming off of wind swept ice on the bay.
2nd Photo: Nearby Cottagewood ice rink. Sun glows behind bare trees to the west of the rink. Happy skaters enjoy hard, smooth ice in this winter of consistent cold.
Date: January 10, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:40pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:51pm
Temperature: 21 degrees
Weather: Light "powdered sugar" snow.
Comments:
1st Photo: Huttner Weather Lab tipping rain gauge waits for milder days to melt snow into measureable "liquid" precipitation.
2nd Photo: "Bosco the Weather Cat" surveys an inch of fresh powder on the weather deck.
Date: January 11, 2011
Location: Excelsior, MN
Time: 4:15pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:53pm
Temperature: 23 degrees
Weather: 3" fresh snowfall. Filtered sun emerging.
Comments: Wintery street scene. Downtown Excelsior. Fresh snowfall piled up around parked cars on street edges at the corner of Lake & Water Streets says mid-winter. Filtered sun setting behind Jake O'Connor's. Dock Cinema on right serves popcorn with real butter!
Today's bonus image: Thorpe Park in Deephaven features deep snow pack. Sun fades between trees through broken cloud layer.
Date: January 12, 2011
Location: Woodland, MN
Time: 4:53pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:54pm
Temperature: 15 degrees
Weather: Mostly clear, cirrus west
Comments: Pretty sunset over Lake Marion in Woodland. Nice contrast of snow and marsh in foreground. Robinson's Bay in Lake Minnetonka visible background right. Sun melting into cirrus layer in the west.
Date: January 13, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 9:15am CST
Local sunset time: 4:55pm
Temperature: 8 degrees
Weather: Snow total 1.9"
Comments: Broke my own rules with a morning shot of snow. It was just coming down too good...and better than the sunset pics of the day. Spruce provides the backdrop. Winter now in high gear.
Date: January 14, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:00pm CST
Local sunset time: 4:57pm
Temperature: 16 degrees
Weather: Snow total 2.5"
Comments: Another day, another clipper. Snow falls pm & evening messing up another commute. Photo shows late PM snow against spruce backdrop. Ice dams bracket the shot from the weather lab roof.
Date: January 17, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:55pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:00pm
Temperature: 24 degrees
Weather: Flurries
Comments: Freshly scraped weather deck at sunset. Massive snow piles have us all looking for new places to pile more snow as it falls.
Bonus shot with flash on captures flurries falling at sunset.
Date: January 19, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:30pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:03 pm
Temperature: 9 degrees
Weather: Sunny. Cirrus west
Comments: Nice sunset at the Deephaven boat docks on St. Louis Bay in Lake Minnetonka. Sun fading into cirrus deck west, but still strong enough cast shadows from dock posts. Winter's peak?
Date: January 20, 2011
Location: St. Paul, MN
Time: 5:00pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:04 pm
Temperature: 5 degrees
Weather: Clear & cold
Comments: Sunset behind the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Lone cumulus drifts to the north. Lighted globes add transitional effect from the Minnesota History Center.
Bonus photo: St. Paul skyline at sunset. Faint glow of sunlight off the buildings.
Date: January 21, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 5:02pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:05 pm
Temperature: 2 degrees
Weather: Light snow
Comments: Common sight on rooftops in Minnesota these days. Snow and icicles collect a few more flakes as clipper sails through.
Date: January 23, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:55pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:09 pm
Temperature: 12 degrees
Weather: Mostly clear, cirrus west
Comments: Classic winter sunset over Lake Minnetonka, but it could be any Minnesota lake this time of year. Cirrus decorate a creamy sunset sky. Park bench awaits warmer days.
Date: January 25, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:50pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:11 pm
Temperature: 20 degrees
Weather: Mixed clouds & sun
Comments: Winter sunset in the maple forest. Towering trees cradle the setting sun. Cirrus shield filters last evening light.
Date: January 26, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:55pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:12 pm
Temperature: 18 degrees
Weather: Partly cloudy
Comments: Mystical sunset over Carson's Bay on Lake Minnetonka. Flat cumuli shade the disc of the sun as a backdrop against hill and bare trees.
Date: January 27, 2011
Location: Woodland, MN
Time: 4:50pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:14 pm
Temperature: 25 degrees
Weather: Broken clouds
Comments: Filtered sun again through broken altostratus deck. Weather pattern features clouds and peeks of sun. Lake Marion marsh and hill make for classic wintery scene.
Date: January 30, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 4:55pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:18 pm
Temperature: 22 degrees
Weather: Clouds rolling in, snow on the way
Comments: Minnesota winter scene on lake Minnetonka. Ice houses ready for another snow. Cirrostratus deck moving in...about to bring 4.7" of fresh snowfall.
Date: February 2, 2011
Location: St. Paul, MN
Time: 5:06pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:22 pm
Temperature: 5 degrees
Weather: Arctic sun
Comments: Sunlight reflected on the State Capitol in St. Paul. Crisp, cold arctic air in place.
Date: February 3, 2011
Location: Greenwood, MN
Time: 5:20pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:23 pm
Temperature: 10 degrees
Weather: Arctic sunset
Comments: Arctic sunset looking SW across Excelsior Bay toward Excelsior from Greenwood.
Date: February 4, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 5:25pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:25 pm
Temperature: 30 degrees
Weather: Sunny & milder
Comments: Nice mix of bright sky and trees in the maple forest. Daylight now evident until nearly 6pm on clear evenings. Nice night for outdoor ice hockey and other winter activities.
Date: February 7, 2011
Location: Deephaven, MN
Time: 5:25pm CST
Local sunset time: 5:29 pm
Temperature: 4 degrees
Weather: Finger numbing cold
Comments: Arctic sunset at Deephaven Beach on St. Louis Bay of Lake Minnetonka. Empty picnic pavilion with an artcic wind chill of -15. Fingers numb after snapping a few photos. Warmer days ahead.
PH