I’ll be honest: I used to be completely addicted to the golden hour. The vast majority of my photos were taken during that narrow window of time. Sometimes the setting sun was the star of the show, with warm-colored skies dominating the image. Other times, that light served as a key resource, enhancing scenes with those tones that make everything look just a bit more beautiful.
That’s why, when I switched to black-and-white photography, the transition was more drastic than I had anticipated. Removing color from the photographic equation meant one of my most important tools suddenly vanished. I felt a bit lost, unsure of where to place my focus. In black and white, the color of the light is irrelevant. A landscape or any other subject won’t be enhanced by warm hues or dramatic tones, so one of the key elements I used to rely on was pushed into the background. Adapting to that shift took time and taught me a lot.
Still, every now and then a sunset appears that earns its place on merit alone. The photo I’m sharing today was taken in Asturias. I had just passed Cudillero and was heading toward Luarca. As I drove along the mountainside, hugging the coast, I came upon this view. The moisture in the air, the silhouette of the distant bridges, and the interplay of light and shadow over the town all combined into a scene that I knew would work well in black and white, so I stopped and took the shot. And yes, the result turned out quite well.
Sunsets are no longer my main source of inspiration, but once in a while, one surprises me and brings back memories of old times.
