Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been traversing the USA and have been treated to some sensational sunsets. Some of them I just watched in awed silence, but others I managed to capture on camera. Here are a few of my favourite sundown moments.
My first glimpse of the Mississippi River was from a train window. As luck would have it, we crossed the river right at sunset, when it was bathed in the loveliest lavender and rosy pink light.
I’d been watching a herd of buffaloes in Theodore Roosevelt National Park for a while, but when I noticed these two against the backdrop of sun-kissed clouds, I couldn’t resist intruding upon their quiet moment.
I took this next photo in Yellowstone Park. Just as the sun was setting, heavy mists rolled in, and the glow of the sun through the fog looked eerily like the flames of a forest fire.
One of the most dramatic sunsets I’ve seen was in the Badlands, which is quite fitting, as the Badlands themselves are pure drama. The streaks of dark clouds were lit up from underneath with a fiery red that put me in mind of a lava flow.
Now I know there have been previous photo challenges on sunsets, but I also believe it is a universal truth that we cannot resist reaching for our cameras as the sun puts on its goodnight performance. You’ve probably got a myriad of dazzling sunset shots just waiting to be put online, so if you would like to join in this week’s travel theme, create your own post titled Travel theme: Sunset and don’t forget to put a link to this page in your post to make it easy for others to find it. Don’t forget to check back in next Friday for a new travel theme.
xxx Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Here is a link to a post I made last week of a sunset over Northumberland Straight in Nova Scotia Canada.
http://imissmetoo.me/2012/08/17/sunset-on-northumberland-straight/
Hi Pat, what a gorgeous photo, the colours are divine. Thanks for joining in the sunset theme! xxx Ailsa
The fun was mine. Fun theme – for me sunsets are impossible to get if I go after them but are so exciting when they are just there.
Many places boast of their sunsets but I’m betting those in my corner of the world are as good as they get. At least, I think so!
http://ronmayhewphotography.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/travel-theme-sunsets/
I would have to agree, Ron, spectacular sunsets! xxx Ailsa
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I just found this blog via ‘Autumn in Bruges’, and love the idea of weekly themes! Here’s my contribution: http://alimuskett.com/2012/08/19/travel-theme-sunset/ 😀
Hurray, so glad you found and joined in the travel themes. Ali, I love Autumn in Bruges blog too. Lovely sunsets, especially the one over Brighton pier. xxx Ailsa
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my drop in the ocean… you’re absolutely right about not being able to resist clicking the sunset or the sunrise. so here’s mine:
http://s1ngal.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/travel-theme-sunset/
What intense colours, s1ngal, beautiful! So glad you joined in this week’s theme! xxx Ailsa
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I love the Buffalo, quietly standing on the hillside, sunsets are great for a photo opportunity.
here’e mine http://thegingerbreadcafe.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/travel-theme-sunsets/
The buffalo made my day, Trudi, they posed so willingly for the shot. 😉 Loved your post, and I think that snow makes sunsets even more glorious! xxx Ailsa
I just recently came back from a holiday in the States. Here is a photo I took in NYC.
http://teedeevee.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/travel-theme-sunset/
Lovely silhouette of the skyline, teedeevee, hope you had a good time in the Big Apple! xxx Ailsa
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Love your sunset photos. Here are mine: http://wp.me/p23TG1-1cm
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Lovely, Francine, that Falconer quote is great! xxx Ailsa
Here’s mine http://missperfectlyimperfect.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/travel-theme-sunset/
What part of the world was this photo taken? I’m intrigued with that mysterious mountain in background. 🙂
such gorgeous pictures Alisa! Sunsets are magical. will surely write something for this one! thanka
Hurrah, looking forward to your post. I agree, sunsets are magical. There’s only one other time of day that competes, and that is dawn! xxx Ailsa
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Lovely sunsets! I’m lucky enough to live in Turkey just minutes walk from the sea so you’ll often find me sat waiting for the sun’s nightly display camera in hand. Here’s one of mine http://citylifepicture.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/travel-theme-sunsets/
Hi knittinggalore, how wonderful to live by the sea in Turkey. Lovely photo, I’m dreaming of a Turkish beach now! xxx Ailsa
Hi.
Here some shot of sunset in Mauritius, last year
http://wp.me/pjXOq-ZR
That bottom photo of the sailboat is truly lovely, Max, great post! xxx Ailsa
Pingback: Weekly Travel Theme : Sunset « Max510's Blog
You wrote it so beautifully : “… it is a universal truth that we cannot resist reaching for our cameras as the sun puts on its goodnight performance.”
It reminded me of a quote from the Persian poet Ḥāfeẓ which explains why we all have this opportunity :
“Even after all this time
the sun never says “you owe me”.
Look what happens with a love like that;
it lights the entire sky.”
I still have to search my files though, to find a sunset that can compete with the great pictures you’ve published here but I’ll do my best Ailsa.
😉
Regards from Dauw
I love this quote, Dauw, thanks so much for sharing it! xxx Ailsa
Brilliant photos Ailsa! Didn’t have time to do a full post, here is a mini post 🙂
http://theurgetowander.com/2012/08/19/travel-theme-sunset/
Thanks Madhu, glad you liked them. It may be a mini post 🙂 but you’ve captured a lovely moment on the Nile! xxx Ailsa
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Hèhè Ailsa, I think I’ve finally found a worthy contribution for your challenge of this week.
I took it at sunset, the day of my birthday nearly a month ago.
Ow, and please don’t forget to click on the picture to listen to the gorgeous song I’ve hidden behind it =)
http://dauwgalerij.blogspot.be/2012/08/slaapwelzoen-van-de-zon.html
Hug from Dauw
I like it alot, but have am not able to leave a comment.
What a pity you weren’t able to leave a message on my blog. Don’t know what’s the reason for it, because I have no restrictions on my blog, normaly anybody can leave a comment. Did you try to react as “anonimous” already?
Never the less I’m glad I’ve returned and found your comment here. Thanks a lot canoe&communications 😉
I’ve tried a few times before. It will not take my wordpress.com information. I enjoy seeing your photos.
Oh wow, Dauw, that’s spectacular. And your Muppet Movie song made me laugh out loud! Excellent post. xxx Ailsa
Pingback: Travel theme: Sunset. Well, twilight, anyhow. | A Number of Things
Your sunsets are so beautiful! I’m afraid the best I can find is a picture of twilight – http://newpillowbook.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/travel-theme-sunset-well-twilight-anyhow/.
Twilight is good too, even without sparklepires 🙂
Pingback: Travel theme: Sunset | The Islander Girl
Lovely pictures!! I do a lot of nature photography (and writing!) I’d love for you to check out my blog–I do a weekly Pictorial blog that highlights a different bioregion of my beloved home state of California; this week was Part 2 of the Mono Lake Basin, one of my favorite places in the world!
Wonderful blog you have here. *Following now*
–Love and Liberation–
Jan @ TheRewildWest
Hi Jan, so glad you found my site. I had a look at your Mono Lake photos, what spectacular landscape! I may be passing by that area in the not too distant future so will try to see it for myself! xxx Ailsa
Definitely try to go there, the birds are putting on quite a show right now! And the water’s sooooo nice, the temperature is cool and you can just lie there floating in it. Try to hit up Convict Lake (right off the 395, maybe 10-15 minutes south of Mono) too, that’s a breathtaking spot!
Love the challenge 😀 I didn’t want to torture myself trying to decide which photos to post so I just went with the latest ones 😛
http://www.theislandergirl.com/2012/08/travel-theme-sunset
Perfect, Macy, I just adore the airport bridge, it’s fabulous. xxx Ailsa
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Hi! Ailsa
Here’s a link to one of my previous “sunset” posts…………..
http://4otomo.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/weekly-photo-challenge-sunset/
Very cool, 4otomo, I remember the first time I saw this post I was wowed by them. I still am. xxx
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Hi Ailsa,
Beautiful sunset shots!! Here is mine http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/the-sun-while-yet-unset/
I apologize for being late…
I love this, Amy, such a beautiful excerpt from ‘Pleasurable Travel Ascending to a Highland’ xxx Ailsa
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Hi Ailsa
Wonderful topic, so I was inspired to do another….
http://4otomo.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/travel-theme-sunset/
Wow, 4otomo, I’m so glad you did another post, the colours in these photos are out of this world. Really wonderful! xxx
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Don’t think I showed this one before…
http://quotidianhudsonriver.com/2012/08/22/travel-theme-sunset/
Wait, what? County Kerry in Ireland? You blindsided me there; I was expecting a shot over the Hudson. Excellent. 🙂
Pingback: Travel theme: Sunset – A photo essay « Just another wake-up call
Hello, Ailsa! It’s been a long time since I last participated! We moved houses, a couple of times… moved countries… changed residences, languages, and now, we’re finally set in La Paz, Bolivia… Here’s my contribution for you “Sunset” travel theme… directly from the mountains that surround the ‘breathless city’ of Nuestra Señora de La Paz! Take care, and thanks for the continuous inspiration! 😮
http://wp.me/p1oMvI-3k7
http://wp.me/s1oMvI-12918
Hey, welcome back to the travel themes, glad to hear your move went well. Hope you’re settling in! Lovely sunset. xxx Ailsa
Pingback: Travel theme: Sunset « miljoanne
m so late…here’s mine
http://miljoanne.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/travel-theme-sunset/
How romantic, Miljo, I love it! xxx Ailsa
Pingback: Travel Theme: Sunset « Rewild the West, and All the Rest!
Finally got mine done, in the nick of time! 😀
http://therewildwest.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/travel-theme-sunset/
–Love and Liberation–
Jan @ TheRewildWest
Nice one, Jan. Love the Point Reyes Penninsula shot. Umm, couldn’t help noticing your caption about Death Valley – you slept in the back of your truck outside a national park – in Death Valley? I’m going to be driving across Death Valley tomorrow on my continuing road trip. Can’t wait! xxx
Nice! You’re so lucky, it is truly one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been. If you happen to see this, MAKE SURE you go to the Death Valley sand dunes and Aguereberry (sp?) Point! I slept in just outside the boundaries of DV, on the side of the highway, because it’s National Forest Land (Inyo NF, I believe), and you can car camp anywhere off the road on NF Land!!
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First time post and I’m late! but I was on vacation so I hope I’m excused. Here’s my entry:
http://travelswithtoby.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/travel-theme-sunset/
thanks!
Hi tobyo, so glad you joined in the travel theme – you’re totally excused – I’m only catching up on responses myself as I’ve been travelling without regular access to the internet. Lovely fun shots, that green one is my absolute favourite! xxx Ailsa
great! thanks so much. fun to see which ones people like as well 🙂
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yuppers…another great idea I missed. *sigh* gotta get with it and keep up. I have a bunch of sunset shots that would have been great for this, too. My fave here is the Yellowstone shot that looks like a fire. I love Yellowstone!
Yellowstone is amazing, isn’t it? You know, Lubby, if you want to do a late sunset post for this travel theme, I would love to have a look at them! You can never have too many sunset photos 😉
Really? Do you know how many sunsets I have??? Let me count them . . . yep, a gazillion and ten. 🙂 I am pretty sure I can find one or two that would work for this, and if I get a chance today, I’ll be posting them. Thanks so much!! 🙂
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OH what a fabulous shot, the barely there rose of the sky, the ragged outline of the mountains and that heavenly glow in the centre. Stunning shot, I love it! xxx Ailsa
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Oh dear! For some reason I thought this weeks travel theme was Sunsets?? What planet am I on this week??
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