Week #1-Kelly McGill: Setting in the West

 

Walking my dog in the evening is one of my favorite times to observe the sky. I will often be unaware of what is happening above me, lost in thought or looking at the surrounding houses, until suddenly we stop moving for a moment and my gaze lifts above the rooftops.

Growing up in upstate New York of course we had sunsets, but there is something different about the way the sun sets in California; the way the color of the sky shifts from blue to periwinkle, and pink and orange in one smooth gradient, the wide expansiveness of the sky and the intense glow of a hot, burning sun.  I am particularly drawn to the image created when the sun moves behind the leaves of the trees, as seen in the picture above. I love the way the sun is shown so spherical and bright, yet you can look at it without hurting your eyes. The intense glow of the setting sun illuminates the spaces between the leaves, revealing intricate patterns and shapes. 

The light of the sun and the color of the sky in this photo give me a sense of calm, warmth, and contentedness. The kind of happiness you can only feel when you know the day is almost done, and soon you can rest.