Gallery 3-3 - Sunrises and Sunsets of the Southwest

A time of day and a frame of mind...come early or come late, but either way prepare yourself for the romantic prismatic colors of sun, clouds and landscape. Come to the Southwest at sundown. The oblique rays of the sun light the undersides of the clouds and shower a prism of beauty on canyons, flowers and homesteads alike. Then add a desert monsoon and a cruising hawk for awesome drama. Be sure and check our other galleries; they overlap a little.

For your convenience, we've placed only a few images on each page of this gallery. When you are ready, go back to page 1 or page 2 in this Gallery, or use the tags at the top to view other galleries on our site and place your order.

Sunburst

Sunburst©. The sun has already set somewhere out of this picture. But after sinking below the visible horizon, it catches a layer of high stratospheric clouds well above the low cumulous that has already gone dark. The result is a miraculous sunburst lighting the desert below. Tucson’s Catalina Mountains are just visible on the right edge.

Sunrise

Sunrise

Sunrise. This is the Southern Arizona sunrise you’ve told everyone about. Catch it quickly! The high dynamic resolution photography distinguishes the ripple of each morning cloud as it separately catches the sun. But in just as few minutes from now, it will all be gone.

Sunset Landing

Sunset Landing

Sunset Landing©. The sky is still glowing with this pink and purple pastel sunset. Look around and see what is happening in another direction. Watch as a great horned owl lowers silently from the sky. In the twilight we can’t see the target, but she is clearly coming in for a surprise landing.

Wake Up

Wake Up

Wake Up. It’s early morning, and the sun is just beginning to rise over the Catalinas. The sky is brightening from dappled grey toward bright blue. In a little while, the clouds will burn off entirely, allowing the trees and bushes to bask in the warmth.

Window of Light

Window of Light© is a fiery Sonoran Desert sunset. The sky is cloudy, but it is lit brilliantly in this early evening. The giant saguaro and flowering agave stand bravely against the gathering night.

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One last comment: We know these images are tempting; they are also copyrighted. Downloading for printing or other copying is expressly forbidden.