It’s been a month since this photo was taken and I still wish I could have seen it at one of my usual sunset viewing locations. Even more so since I had a hunch that that evening’s sunset would be on the more intense side. That afternoon, the clouds had that hazy quality to them that I’ve begun to assciciate with vibrant and intense sunsets. In the evening, I looked out the kitchen window just before sunset and was simultaneously elated and disappointed with what I saw. So I grabbed my camera and rushed outside to the backyard to photograph whatever I could. I’m thankful I was able to capture something, at least. It always becomes a little bit more difficult for me to go sunset chasing when the days get shorter and shorter. Winter hasn’t even begun yet and here I am missing those long, warm, summer nights.
Such an intense summer sunset!! I was at my usual spot waiting for sundown, but unfortunately the sky remained dull and unchanging. So I decided to leave. I had a feeling that I should have stayed but I didn’t listen to my gut as I should have. There have been many other times where I’d leave thinking nothing would happen only for the sky to start changing minutes later. Sunsets can really be so unpredictable sometimes.
On the drive home, I noticed the sky turning pink. And this wasn’t your standard soft sunset pink. This was a bright pink that was only getting more intense by the moment. We pulled over by a nearby park and I dashed out to photograph whatever I could. Sunsets like these don’t happen every day and I felt so humbled being alone surrounded by a giant expanse of vibrant sky. The energy felt electric and you could smell the incoming rain in the air.
The lighting here was tricky and it made me realize that I really need a new camera that handles low light situations better. I feel regret when I think about the photos that didn’t turn out but there was nothing I could do, both in the moment and in postproduction.
When I felt like I had all of the photos I wanted, the sunset was also starting to fade. Then, there was a sudden shift in the air and I could hear the rain start to make its way in. I grabbed my belongings and made a mad dash to the car before the rain could really get bad. Once I closed the car door, the skies opened up and it just started pouring. Good timing on my part!
What I love about sunsets like these is how they become the talk of the town for the next few days. I really enjoy going on Instagram to see all the other photos my fellow Torontonians have taken. While Toronto is definitely blessed with its fair share of gorgeous sunsets, ones like these don’t happen often and they get all us nature lovers excited!
Spring sunsets usually aren’t as intense as those in summer but I always look forward to when the sky lights up more and more often. It means summer is truly on its way!
An intense and vibrant sunset from the beginning of May. The clouds turned yellow and then orange and I was able to capture some stunning shots of the Toronto skyline and the surrounding areas.
A vivid red sunset during spring. I had fun editing this one to look a bit darker to accentuate the sun’s round shape. I love when hazy sunsets provide us with a beautiful view of the sun!
This was one of those days where just by looking at the clouds in the evening, I could tell we would have a brilliant sunset later on. Sometimes I’m wrong since Mother Nature has a mind of her own, but I really love being right!
When we got to my spot, we could see the clouds rolling in and in no time at all, the sky opened up and unleashed a downpour onto the city. I was super lucky as I was out taking photos just seconds before! I headed back to the car, closed the door, and was just stunned at how the rain pelted down seconds later while the wind really picked up. Since we were by a hill, we could see the wind moving the rain horizontally. For a second or two, the rain streaks on our windshield were all completely horizontal!
After the rainstorm and a few short videos of the rain later, the sky began to turn pink and then orange. Soon after, some of the clouds gained definition and turned red. It’s not the most intense sunset I’ve seen but I’m not one to turn a sunset opportunity down! I’m really happy I got to go out to capture this beautiful scene.
Another Toronto sunset. I had fun merging two images in the first photo to get an HDR edit. It’s definitely something I want to experiment with more in the future. I like having the option of having the skyline visible or shrouded in shadow, depending on what mood I’m going for. Here, I liked the way both turned out!
Another brilliant Toronto sunset. Sunsets like these near the end of winter feel like a light at the end of the tunnel. I personally don’t mind winter and I love the photographic opportunities, but by the end, it really starts to eat away at me. I look forward to the longer days and the sunsets at 8 or 9pm. We still have a little while longer to go but with vivid skies like these, the wait feels a little easier.
Not the first sunset of 2021, but the first one I’ve taken! The sky began to glow after I left my spot thinking nothing would happen. Luckily, I was still able to find a place to get some photos of the red and pink sky.
I haven’t been able to photograph a good sunset in a while. This was mostly due to missing them because of the sun setting way too early and not being able to get to my prime locations in time. Even here, I’m not so pleased that I realized the sky was erupting so late but I’m glad I was able to capture it regardless.
Gina Staios Photography 