These pictures are images of an orbital or sub-orbital vehicle launch from Vandenburg California as viewed from quite a distance away, in the high desert of California near Mohave. When the timing of these launches are a bit after sundown, and just as it is stating to darken nicely, the sun still lights up the exhaust trail. That produces this kind of view.

This shot is a little after second stage initiation I have been told, I do not know for sure myself.