Photo of the Week: Dec. 16, 2007

HOW I GOT THE SHOT: Jerusalem of Gold gets its name from the beautiful glow of golden light cast by the setting sun on the walls of the old city. Until I shot this picture, I wouldn't have considered trying to capture those "golden moments" after the sun had set. In this photo, however, the sun has already dipped below the horizon, but the last moments of daylight combine with artificial light to create an unusual view of this grand subject. At this time of day, because the light is changing so rapidly, a photograph is able to preserve a moment of beauty that the eye can barely perceive, and even if it does, it is lost almost as quickly as it is discovered. The most evocative photos often emerge from these transitional times, such as the clearing of a storm, or the morning and evening twilight.