Santa Teresa Park Sunset Pictures 2/7/10

These HDR (High Dynamic Range) pictures were taken at Santa Teresa Park on 2/7/10 near sunset. Most of the day was cloudy and gloomy, but near sunset, the sun started to peek through the clouds. While sunset and partially cloudy skies can produce some dramatic pictures, the wide range of light is problematic for conventional photography. One solution is to use HDR imaging. HDR pictures are created using special software to combine multiple shots taken at different exposures to capture the whole range light in a scene. See the links on the left for more about HDR photography. With the constantly and rapidly-changing lighting conditions at sunset, it's important to be in the right place at the right time and to take lots of pictures as the conditions change. I took almost 300 pictures in about an hour's time, using burst mode and manual and auto-bracketing in my SLR camera, which was mounted on a tripod.

From the Pueblo Area, looking towards Bernal Hill at 4:47 pm.

From the Pueblo Area, looking straight into the sun across the old corral towards the start of the Mine Trail at 4:52 pm.

From the start of the Mine Trail below the parking lot on Bernal Road, looking towards the sun setting behind IBM's Almaden Research Center and next to Mt Umunhum at 5:01 pm.

Looking towards Coyote Peak behind Trench Hill from below the parking lot on Bernal Road at 5:05 pm. The sun is finally starting to hit the park.

Same as above from a slighty different vantage point, but a little later at 5:10 pm. Coyote Peak is now sunlit.

Looking towards the Mine Trail, the South Almaden Valley, Rancho San Vicente, and the hills of Calero County Park from below the Bernal Road parking lot at 5:11 pm.

Same as above, looking down the Mine Trail.

Looking towards Mt. Umunhum and IBM at 5:19 pm. The sun has dropped below the Sierra Azuls, and the lighting on the clouds is becoming redder.

Back at the Pueblo Area, looking towards the group picnic site at 5:26 pm.

Coyote Peak at 5:29 pm.

The Pueblo Area, looking towards Bernal Hill at 5:31 pm. Sunset was officially at 5:39 pm.