The quality of light is unceasingly fascinating to me as a photographer. Without light we would not see. At least we wouldn’t see with our eyes the way we do. There are other ways of sensing the world but seeing is primary for many humans.
During the day the quality of the light changes. The sun’s position in the sky affects the light and clouds also impact it. Counter-intuitively (for non-photographers) cloudy skies are often better for photography than bright sunny clear skies because the light is more diffuse and less contrasty.
It’s a light thing
At sunrise and again at sunset because of the rays of the sun are more horizontal, the light is also more diffused and contrasts are less. The half hour before and after sunrise and sunset is often known at the golden hour. I love going out during the golden hour with my camera but I do it far too infrequently. It’s hard to motivate myself to set my alarm to get up early enough though when I do I’m almost always glad that I did. Sunsets are easier but still I find myself going out less often than I would like.
You never know what a sunrise or sunset will bring. Will there be beautiful clouds that create colorful light? Will clouds cover the sun? Will the sky be uninteresting and empty of clouds? Much like life we never know that each day will bring. We never know what will bring beauty and wonder into our lives. Sometimes the things that we dread the most turn out to be the most illuminating.
“Still, what I want in my life
is to be willing
to be dazzled—
to cast aside the weight of factsand maybe even
to float a little
above this difficult world.
I want to believe I am lookinginto the white fire of a great mystery.
I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing—
that the light is everything—that it is more than the sum
of each flawed blossom rising and falling. And I do.”
― House of Light
Yesterday I took a midday walk at French Regional Park. Even when the trees shaded the path, there were spots of light showing through the branches high above.
August 27 – Light
Bliss!
As I walked I hopscotched through the patches of light savoring the pattern of light and dark beneath my feet and above my head. The beauty beneath my feet and all around me lifted me up. In those moments I was connected to everything around me.
“to leap into it and hold on, connecting everything,”
― House of Light
As the day length shortens and summer draws to a close I long to slow down time and soak in the light and warmth of the season for just a bit longer. Because of my long time indoors recovering from hip replacement surgery I feel as if I missed most of summer this year. I’m practicing acceptance as the seasons turn inexorably from summer to fall and fall to winter. But as hard as I try I can’t help dreading the onset of winter all too soon.
With all of the rain throughout the summer, the trees and lawns are so GREEN. It doesn’t look like fall so much until I see the early turning maple trees with red and orange leaves showing up already. And I noticed that leaves are falling from the tree in our front yard already!
Speaking of light…
Here are some media that have brought me light and inspiration lately.
From the On Being listen to David Whyte, The Conversational Nature of Reality
Read Shawna LeMay’s blog post On Seeing Yourself in a Painting
I’m almost done with my August mindfulness challenge as August is almost over. It’s hard to believe that it’s flown by so quickly. What brings you bliss during these last days of summer?
Remember, it’s a light thing.
May you walk in beauty (and light).
August 28 – Feather
August 29 – Leap (closest thing to a leap I could think of – love to see kids playing at French Regional Park)
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