A beautiful sunrise over the Columbia River Gorge, with Beacon Rock just visible through the mist.
I’ve been sort of fixated on photographing the crescent moon lately. I wanted to capture it at sunrise (i.e. when it rises just before the sun on the day or two before new moon), but clouds interfered. Instead I got a pretty nice sunrise shot (see image above). Then I set my sights on the setting crescent after new moon. Coincidentally, this moon when it is first sighted marks the beginning of Ramadan, the month of daily fasting & prayer for muslims worldwide.
On the day after the new moon, the crescent was exceedingly thin, only 5% illuminated. Further complicating matters, it was due to set less than half an hour after the sun. These factors make it very difficult to sight. You can make it easier by getting up in elevation with a clear view of the western horizon, and scanning with binoculars. I almost went this route, but I wanted a different sort of picture of it. I wanted some interesting foreground that included water. So I set up at river-level in the Columbia Gorge near home. While sharp-eyed muslims sighted this moon and Ramadan began, I failed.
A photo captured at dusk but with something missing – the crescent moon.
I was disappointed but not beaten. The next evening I knew the crescent would be easier to sight and probably make a more beautiful picture. I went back to the same spot in the Gorge, Rooster Rock State Park. The image at bottom was the result. Hope you enjoy it.
If you’re interested in any of these images, just click on them. They are not available for free download without my permission, sorry. Go ahead and contact me if you have any questions. By the way, I wrote a post on capturing the crescent moon (with a photo not a lasso!). Check it out. Thanks for the visit!
Success! A peaceful crescent moon sets at dusk over a small inlet of the Columbia River, Oregon.
Thanks very much you all!
Gotta see the sunrise over the Columbia River Gorge myself one day. Haven’t been there since I was six years old.
You should then Mary. I see many more sunsets than sunrises, probably because I’m lazy.
Stunning shots!
Breathtaking!!! The last one is poetic!