Between Day and Night: Vernazza's Blue Hour Awakening

The charming fishing village of Vernazza has been photographed countless times, but I was determined to capture something different. I wanted to freeze that magical transition when day surrenders to night and the village lights begin their evening performance against the blue Mediterranean. This meant finding the proper elevation, the perfect angle, and most importantly, having the patience to wait for the fleeting moment when everything aligns.

Finding the Perfect Vantage Point

The Cinque Terre hiking trails offer numerous viewpoints of Vernazza, but not all provide the composition I envisioned. I needed a position where the iconic tower would stand separate from the distant shoreline, creating visual depth and emphasizing the village's relationship with the sea.

After scouting several spots, I found this elevated perch on the trail heading north toward Monterosso. From here, the entire layout of Vernazza revealed itself – the small protective harbor, the colorful buildings climbing the hillside, and most importantly, the medieval tower standing proud on its rocky promontory.

The Waiting Game

Photography is often about patience, and blue-hour photography demands it. I arrived well before sunset, setting up my tripod and composing the shot while tourists returned to their accommodations. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I watched the transformation begin.

First came the subtle shifts in the quality of light, the sea and sky taking on deeper hues of blue. Then, like stars appearing one by one, the village lights flickered on – warm yellows and oranges providing perfect contrast against the cool blues. The tower lights created the focal point I had envisioned, drawing the eye, while the reflections in the harbor water doubled the visual impact.

Technical Approach

For this image, I used a medium telephoto lens to compress the scene slightly and emphasize the relationship between the village elements. With my camera firmly mounted on a tripod, I captured multiple exposures at different settings to ensure I had options in post-processing.

The technical challenge was balancing the exposure between the still-bright sky and the artificial lighting. I settled on an aperture of f/11 for good depth of field, ISO 100 for minimal noise, and a shutter speed of about 2 seconds – slow enough to capture the scene's luminosity but fast enough to maintain detail in the highlights.

Worth Every Moment

Some might wonder if standing on a hillside as darkness falls, swatting at mosquitoes, and repeatedly adjusting settings is worth the effort. When I look at this image—the harmony of colors, the perfect moment of transition captured—the answer is an unequivocal yes.

The village of Vernazza has stood for centuries, but this exact combination of light, color, and atmosphere existed for only minutes. Being there to capture it required planning and patience, but these are the moments landscape photographers live for. Have you experienced the blue hour magic in your photography? I'd love to hear about your favorite twilight locations.