Sunsets Are the Best When it Rains

Summary

Anne Bonfert captures the stunning sunset over Mielno, Poland, juxtaposed with incoming rain clouds, in a series of photographs taken from the ground and with a drone.

Abstract

Anne Bonfert, along with her husband, David, documents a breathtaking sunset in Mielno, Poland, amidst rain clouds. Arriving at the campsite situated between the Baltic Sea and Jamno lake, they quickly set up to capture the spectacle. The sunset's light was reflected in the lake's still water, and a drone was used to capture an aerial view of the scene, including the town, the sea, and the approaching storm. Despite the dropping temperature and high winds, they managed to take remarkable photographs and a video, ending their shoot with a walk to the beach to capture the sunset's final moments. Bonfert's work illustrates the beauty that can emerge when weather conditions like cloudy skies accompany a sunset, as quoted by Paul Coelho.

Opinions

The author expresses awe at the natural beauty of the sunset, enhanced by the presence of rain clouds.
The couple's appreciation for nature and the outdoors is evident in their decision to camp and photograph the scene.
The use of a drone for photography is seen as a valuable tool to capture unique perspectives that ground-level photography cannot achieve.
The author suggests that inclement weather, specifically cloudy skies, contributes to the beauty of sunsets, contrasting the common preference for clear skies.
There is an appreciation for the clean air and the serene environment of the campsite, which adds to the experience of capturing the sunset.
The author encourages readers to engage with more of their photo essays and consider a Medium membership to support their work.

A scenic twilight scene with rain clouds building on the horizon

We had just arrived in the town of Mielno, located on the spit between the rough Baltic Sea and the Jamno lake. It was late in the afternoon and big rain clouds were moving in from the West.

As the basic campers we were, we didn’t have to set up anything since we slept in the back of our car. Looking out onto the lake I quickly grabbed my camera and walked out of the campsite onto the pathway right on the water.

The sunset light was spectacular.

Clouds were reflecting in the still water of the lake.

David, my husband, launched the drone into the sky. Below you can see our car parked between the only other campers. Two campervans with German registration plates.

The temperature was dropping rapidly but the air was clean.

From about 70 meters above the campsite, we got this stunning picture of the town of Mielno, an arriving rain cloud, the Baltic Sea on the right, and the lake on the left.

Turning the drone 180 degrees around we then got a beautiful sunset scene in the East. I do know, the sun is setting in the West but the clouds in the East were already painted in pink, yellow, and orange.

After struggling at first to bring the drone back down due to high winds in the air, we then packed up all our equipment and headed across the land spit to the beach.

This is the final capture of this evening’s sunset spectacle.

“Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies.” — Paul Coelho