Thursday, December 3, 2020

Four Minutes of Magic

I set the alarm to wake up early on Monday, Nov. 30. The full moon would set @6:51 AM. Ideally, I wanted to be at a view location about 30 minutes before moonset. Sunrise would be at 6:40 AM, so if I got really lucky, I might be able to get some good moon shots and sunrise captures on the same outing. All photos were taken using a 100-400mm telephoto lens and tripod.

6:35 AM

I had wanted to hike up the hillside (parallel to the fence in the photo) to a viewpoint, but the access gate was locked! Oh well, the moon was pretty and visible between the clouds, so I just started shooting from this spot next to my parked car. Follow along as we watch it drop down to the fence. 

6:38 AM:  Nestled in the clouds!

6:38 AM (zoom in and crop)

6:39 AM

6:40 AM

6:41 AM (convert to BW, zoom in and crop)

6:44 AM

6:52 AM

That's about it for capturing this very pretty moonset. Let's look the other direction at the beautiful sunrise.


Saddleback Mountain
This had been a great outing, with beautiful skies. As I started to pack up to leave, I wondered if the moon would still be visible from the viewpoint location where I had originally intended to go. I went back to the gate that was locked earlier and it was now unlocked. Nice!!!

7:01 AM

WOW!! And to think I almost missed this shot! I didn't have to walk far up the hill before I saw this beautiful view of the moon setting over downtown LA. Astute readers may have noticed I said moonset was 6:51 AM, yet I took the above photo at 7:01. I even went back to the website to double-check (https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/usa). Yup, I had the correct location entered and the moonset time says 6:51 AM. Certainly angle of view must play a role, and perhaps there is some wiggle room in these numbers. That's a good lesson to remember!

7:08 AM

At about 7:08 AM, something magical happened. The light from the sunrise hit the City of Angels at just the right angle, reflecting light off the metal and glass buildings. For a brief couple minutes, LA looked like a "city of gold", shimmering brightly on the horizon. It's an image I don't think I will ever forget. Two hikers walking by looked in the direction my camera was pointed and stopped in their tracks to take in the sight.

7:09 AM

7:12 AM

It had been exactly 4 minutes that the magical golden light reflected off the buildings of downtown LA, and then it was gone. As was the moon. What an amazing morning. I should do this more often! I wonder if the "magical light" reflects off the city every morning??

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Stay safe and stay healthy!!

48 comments:

  1. And the moon was a bit squished. I'm sure that has to do with the atmosphere. I've never looked for a setting moon. And the light off the buildings is amazing.

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  2. What a beautiful show. Well captured.

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  3. Yowza! Moon and clouds is the greatest show of all. Each of your shots shows why! Bravo

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  4. ...you have to catch and enjoy the magic while you can and you did!

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  5. Wow ! The moon behind the golden city is awsome ! What a sight !

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  6. Gorgeous photos! Love the golden LA photo.

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  7. Neat shots of the moon and clouds.

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  8. You got some really amazing photos!

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  9. Gorgeous shots. I don't have the knowledge or equipment to take night shots or moon shots and yours are so beautiful.

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  10. Excellent! I did a similar thing a year or so ago. Sunrise and Moonset at the same time---lovely. The moon cradled in the clouds is so beautiful and then the glow from the sun on the city is truly amazing. Good shots and good job.
    MB

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  11. I have said it before and I will say it again - you are an amazing photographer. My world is enriched for seeing the beauty of the earth (and universe) through your lens!

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  12. Wow! appreciate your enthusiasm. I have been struggling to grab winter sunrise even though it happens quite late in northern hemisphere

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  13. Breathtaking photos!
    Greetings from Germany

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  14. Some great shots in there, it looks very mysterious behind the clouds.

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  15. Love these! In the fourth picture, with the cloud across half his face, he looks a bit like Boris Badenov. Your work is amazing.

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  16. That first early morning light is so special when it touches the scene with that golden shimmer. I watched it turn an ocean into gold one morning, such an outstanding sight that I will always remember it. Nature can be so enthralling and I am glad you were able to capture this little bit of pure pleasure with your camera.

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  17. Well done on capturing such and awesome sight, not much chance of the where I live.Looks like you guys are having it hard there are the moment. Stay Safe

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  18. Hello,

    Your moon photos are all gorgeous. You had a great idea and spot to watch the moon setting. The sunrise looks pretty too. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a happy weekend!

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  19. What a fantastic photos, especially 6:40 en 7:08 AM are really wonderful.

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  20. Stunning. You might consider selling prints of the 7:09 am photo. This is so unlike the sky where I live right now - another day of gloom for us, despite the brief peek at the sun yesterday.

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  21. Wow! You 7:08 capture is award worthy.

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  22. So well titled. I gotta tell you that 7:08 & 09 made me smile. My first photo shot of LA skyline was here on your blog. Beautifully timed and taken. Great eye.
    Sherry & jack

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  23. Would have been nice if our weather had cooperaed.

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  24. Oh wow, you are the man!! What a great series on the moon setting, then you got the sun rising, and the view of downtown LA is spectacular!!!
    Well done!

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  25. Love how the moon partially disappears behind that cloud and then reappears as it lowers. I bet there are limitless numbers of special moments if one just happens to be in the right place at the right time. Glad you had a fantastic moonset and a lovely sunrise.

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  26. Wow, well worth getting up early to capture those photos! The light on the city is magical all right. Stunning!

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  27. Beautiful photos! The lighted city shots are fabulous! Happy Skywatching!

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  28. The last few captures are brilliant!

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  29. Fantastic - Dig The Goat Head Cloud At 6:40 - I Am So Thankful You Took On This Adventure - Well Done Bother Man - Stay Strong

    Cheers

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  30. Really four minutes of magic!
    You took awesome shots. The golden shimmering skyline seems unreal...

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  31. Very nice display by Mother Nature. And greatly captured too!

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  32. Those shots are nothing short of amazing. And LA never looked so good! That's a prize winning picture.

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  33. successful early outing. for you, but what on earth were those hikers doing at 07am???

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  34. Wow! Great shots of the setting moon. Yes, it is magical. I am glad I didn't miss this post. Really stunning and amazing shots! Have a beautiful weekend.

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  35. Incredible pictures. Amazing and miraculous to have a clear air view of Los Angelas . Sunrise and moon set together at the same time is wonderful.

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  36. Wow! Gorgeous views of the luminous moon followed by the large orange early morning moon. In Colorado we call that golden glow of the first rays of sunlight reflecting on a mountain "aplenglow" To see it on LA buildings was an equally beautiful experience.

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  37. Really enjoyed this post. I didn't know about moonset before. Now I do. You captured some beautiful photos of the sky. Thanks for sharing!

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  38. My birthday please click advertisement on my blog.

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  39. What a great photo adventure you have shared here, Rick. Taking the various moon shots from the same location was very interesting but the ones showing a golden LA were outstanding and quite amazing. Hopefully, you will return another day to show us if the view is similar.

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  40. Wow, that photo of Los Angeles is absolutely spectacular! I tried to capture the Moonset over the lake but it clouded over about 10 minutes before touchdown.

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  41. We have so many rusting and abandoned vehicles in the bush to explore. When logging jobs finished, many times they left behind heavy equipment rather than bringing it back out. One strange truck disappeared. It didn't have an engine and had four flat tires. One quad ride it was there, a few years later gone. - Margy

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  42. Totally amazing moon shots! Those last few of the LA skyline lit up are truly spectacular. Nice job.

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