How can we know when to stay after sunset? Is it possible to know some time before sunset that the period after sunset is going to be really nice? When we are shooting close to our cars this is often not a worry but if you have to hike back it is important to know the answer to this question. If the post sunset period is not going to be nice I would much rather start hiking back right after the sun sets so that I can hike back while there is still some light. I hate waiting for nice light only to never show up and then have to hike back in the dark; this is especially true when I am by myself and I am not familiar with the place.

This is the kind of image I am talking about. This kind of light and color is what I am willing to wait for; willing to walk back in the dark for. You can see that it is already darish (bear in mind that this is a longer exposure which makes it look lighter than what it really is; by now the foreground is getting quite dark). This is not a place friendly to night walking as there are rocks everywhere and often no clear path is visible. If I am not going to get nice light I would much rather head back right as the sun disappears. Here are a few things to look out for that persuade me to stay longer.

• The presence of high cirrius clouds (not thick socked in clouds)

• These clouds are fairly thin (sometimes thick cloud banks can also produce nice color but I prefer clouds like in this image)

• No low clouds where the sun is going down (this is really important)

• I like clouds that are between me and the sun (not behind me)

• Clouds behind me can often light up nicely as well but they may lack the vibrancy found in clouds between me and the sun

Don't be afraid to stay longer if there is any promise of something special.