{"id":28304,"date":"2015-09-17T05:45:39","date_gmt":"2015-09-17T11:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=28304"},"modified":"2026-04-15T18:26:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T23:26:49","slug":"crepuscular-rays-and-watercolor-skies-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/09\/17\/crepuscular-rays-and-watercolor-skies-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","title":{"rendered":"Crepuscular Rays and Watercolor Skies at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SunsetSunset and watercolor skies at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge – Nikon D300, handheld, f5.6, 1\/125, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

My focus is usually birds and animals but as many of you know I also can’t resist taking images of the beautiful views I see such as these two views of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge last week. On the 9th of September there were clouds to the east as the sun began to set. The colors and shapes of the clouds reminded me of a watercolor painting while the marsh and the Lower Lake anchored me to the earth.<\/p>\n

\"SunriseSunrise and Crepuscular Rays at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge – Nikon D300, handheld, f5.6, 1\/800, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 26mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

On the way out of the Lower Lake campgrounds at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge crepuscular rays were plainly visible above the rising sun as it emerged from behind the mountains to the east on the morning of September 13th. This was my last view on my last day at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and as usual I always find it hard to say goodbye to a place that brings me joy and peace.<\/p>\n

Finding refuge in a refuge.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Red Rock Lakes NWR photos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My focus is usually birds and animals but as many of you know I also can’t resist taking images of the beautiful views I see such as these two views of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge last week. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":174964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1513,223,12,608],"tags":[4101,4634,5178,4094,4069,4092,4190,3993,5434,3996,4095],"class_list":["post-28304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beaverhead-county-montana","category-centennial-valley","category-montana","category-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","tag-clouds","tag-crepuscular-rays","tag-lake","tag-marsh","tag-mountains","tag-refuge","tag-sunrise","tag-sunset","tag-valley","tag-water","tag-wetlands"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-sunset-mia-mcpherson-8187.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-7mw","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41906,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/09\/08\/colorful-sunset-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":28304,"position":0},"title":"Colorful Sunset at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Watching a colorful sunset at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge fade to the darkness of night is a gift. A wonderful, priceless gift.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Colorful sunset at the Lower Lake of Red Rock Lakes NWR, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-lower-lake-mia-mcpherson-8203.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-lower-lake-mia-mcpherson-8203.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-lower-lake-mia-mcpherson-8203.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/red-rock-lakes-nwr-lower-lake-mia-mcpherson-8203.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15344,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/07\/08\/wigeon-pond-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":28304,"position":1},"title":"Wigeon Pond, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The amazing birds and animals keep me going back to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge but the scenery and wildness of the area does too.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wigeon Pond, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-0532.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-0532.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-0532.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-0532.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15225,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/06\/17\/longing-for-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":28304,"position":2},"title":"Longing for Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"It is raining here in the valley this morning and snow is falling in the high country in the middle of June so I am sitting here dreaming of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"View of the Centennial Mountains from Wigeon Pond, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-7409.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34052,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/12\/08\/sunset-paints-the-sky-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":28304,"position":3},"title":"Sunset Paints the Sky at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The are times when I feel that the sunset paints the sky with vibrant colors and although the earth seems muted at twilight its still anchors me.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Painted sky at Red Rock Lakes NWR. 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