Blue mirror

“Blue mirror”. The blue hour fills the sky above Cagliari with vivid and deep colors, while the warm light of the set sun fades, disappearing behind the clouds and the horizon. The running clouds and the skyline of the city, in which the Sella del Diavolo can be recognized, as well as the many lights and street lamps of the Poetto seafront, are reflected on the shiny surface of the Molentargius pond.

This observation point, in addition to being appreciated by birdwatchers due to the proximity to the flamingos that feed and nest in the area, often offers beautiful views to those who love landscapes.
Thanks to the vastness of the salt pond, free from architectural visual impediments of the city, it is easy to enjoy spectacular sunsets, especially in the case of particular climatic conditions. In this case, immediately after a downpour, the clear sky has given great visibility (you can even glimpse the mountainous elevations of the Capoterra area, about 20km away as the crow flies). Moreover, the clouds still present have drawn soft and sinuous shapes in the sky (among which the one in the center of the frame could recall the silhouette of the Sella del Diavolo promontory).

To take this shot, I’ve used two filters. A 2-stop graduated ND filter helped to reduce the brightness of the sky on the horizon, and a 6-stop solid ND filter allowed the camera to extend the shutter speed to over 2 minutes. In this way, the global brightness of the scene is better balanced, while the surface of the water is free from even the smallest ripples, and the movement of the clouds is emphasized.