After shooting so many sunsets, one gets used to the changes in lighting characteristics and how to anticipate them. Conditions for a sunset shoot depend on many factors; in the case of this shot, the sea that day was very calm so I chose a spot with a more sweeping perspective. When there are waves crashing in, I usually choose a beach shoot as invariably, wave motion creates a very good subject. For the sunset itself, I tend to prefer high patchy cloud formations or cirrus and most important no thick cloud formations near the horizon. I always wait until well after the sun dips below the horizon because that's when you get redness in the clouds. Here in the Med, light changes very quickly and conditions such as in this shot last just a few seconds.
Around here the sunsets are often mudded with thick cloud formations near the horizon. Of course sometimes it works out, but most of the time I feel that it makes for a boring sunset. I had a theory going for a while, that the first cool day after it's been warm is good for sunsets here, but of course that isn't always true. Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time!
What do you think are the perfect conditions for a great sunset?