Solitary structures are bathed in warm evening light as huge clouds roil behind them in silence.

After several visits to the top of Pico Arieiro, we were finally rewarded with no fog and clear skies. Although the view into the sunset was spectacular, these houses caught my interest.

The yellow grasses which are common at these altitudes had caught the golden pre-sunset light and provided an interesting juxtaposition with the colourless clouds behind them. The subtle shapes in the clouds were contrasted with the sharp lines of the buildings and the hill's outline.

Both these contrasts come together to result in a painterly effect which I hoped to capture in this photo.

Pico Arieiro, Madeira, 2014

Sony a7R with Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS

Tags:   f:long camera:sony_a7r madeira mountains clouds sunset hill square Pico Arieiro pico arieiro painterly lens:canon70200f4LIS

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On the westernmost tip of Madeira, a beautiful sunset is presided upon solely by a lonely lighthouse.

We'd planned on watching the sunset at Ponta do Pargo at the western extreme tip of Madeira all day, but didn't quite anticipate how long it would take us to get there along the windy mountain roads of the Portuguese island. The drive seemed like a pointless pursuit as we drove through overcast skies with no clear sight of the western horizon.

The delay served as a blessing, however, as we arrived just in time for the brief moments of relatively clear sky before a storm rolled in from the South bringing with it heavy rain, hail and winds. Seeing the sunset paint the deep storm clouds in vibrant colours was a great way to conclude a memorable day.

Ponta do Pargo, Madeira, Portugal, 2014

Sony a7R with Samyang 14mm f/2.8

Tags:   madeira camera:sony_a7r f:ultrawide f:wide seascape lighthouse sunset storm Ponta do Pargo atlantic ocean SixteenByNine

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In the high plateau of Madeira, quickening winds not only conjure clouds from clear sky -- they also generate a large percentage of the island's energy needs.

For me, Paúl da Serra is the second most magical place in the tiny Portuguese island of Madeira. Unfortunately, to see it at its best you need clear skies which are not very common. After making the difficult drive up here (one of the main approach roads was shut due to a landslide) we were greeted with thick clouds and high winds which didn't offer much visibility.

It wasn't all gloomy though, every now and then a gap in the clouds would rush past in the stiff winds and the sun would shine through drenching the scene in colours and offering a view off into the distance. Still, it was a far cry from what I'd seen the last time I visited the island in 2008 (see: www.flickr.com/photos/sidaths/tags/pa%C3%BAldaserra/).

Of all the photos I took on my most recent trip to this plateau, however, this photo is the one that I liked the most. It features some of the wind turbines that dominate the skyline of the plateau, and can be seen clearly from the most magical place in Madeira...

Paúl da Serra, Madeira, Portugal, 2014

Sony a7R with Zeiss FE 35mm f/2.8

Tags:   square clouds madeira wind power windmill renewable energy portugal Paúl da Serra Paul da Serra Paúl da Serra Paul camera:sony_a7r

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Pre-dawn clouds bubble beneath a violet sky, creating a twilight theatre upon which the sun would soon rise.

I'd made the trip up to Pico Arieiro in Madiera before, but always well after the sun had risen. This time, we decided that it would be worth getting up in the early hours of the morning to get here in time to watch the sun rise.

The weather at these altitudes had been substandard for the past several days, and as we began our journey Funchal was under a sheet of cloud. As we drove higher and higher, these clouds thickened and we soon found ourselves driving through dense clouds and had to slow down. Around 100m below the highest point, however, the clouds began to clear and this photo is what we saw as we gazed out to the east.

I only wish I'd brought my tripod (yes, I managed to leave my tripod at home on this trip!) so I could have made a timelapse as the sun rose...

Pico Arieiro, Madeira, Portugal, 2014

Sony a7R with Zeiss FE 35mm f/2.8

Tags:   madeira dawn sunrise clouds Pico Arieiro pico arieiro camera:sony_a7r SixteenByNine

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After several attempts we were finally rewarded with clear skies over Pico Arieiro in Madeira at sunset.

Of all the places I've visited on our planet this is one of my favourite spots! On a clear day you can see the Ocean on the North, South and East of the island by simply turning your head. On on a cloudy day the jagged backbone of the island is visible above the swirling clouds. On most days, however, you'll be stuck with clouds so thick you can't see more than ten metres in front of you. Not knowing what you get when you begin the journey up only adds to the excitement.

Apart from one Nikon-shooter, we had the sunset to ourselves. The Nikon-shooter, who you can see a little way along the path, was taking photographs of the windmills a several kilometres away on Paúl da Serra. If you have access to the full-sized version of this photo you can see them directly below the sun.

Pico Arieiro, Madeira, Portugal, 2014

Sony a7R with Samyang 14mm f/2.8 UMC

Tags:   path madeira portugal sunset mountains trail hike pico ariero camera:sony_a7r f:ultrawide SixteenByNine

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