Last week, while I was camping next to a lake, I moved sites for the last two nights, something I wouldn’t normally do. In this case, though, it was well worth the effort. I had an unfettered view to the west so I could watch the sun slowly sinking down each evening. It was so beautiful both days that I gave up on making dinner and just sat outside till that big yellow ball of light had finished putting on the nightly sunset show.
Golden hour, that 60 minutes or so before the sun disappers, set the water on fire and silhouetted the trees on the island just to the west of me.
The second night, clouds from the incoming storm, created delicate sun rays down to the water. The light changed with the wind, and I just kept clicking the shutter because each image seemed even better than the previous one.
As the sun sank into the clouds that second night, the colors of the sky slid into pinks and purples reflecting on the water. There was absolutely silence except for the hooting of an owl somewhere to the left of me and the gentle lap of water meeting sand just below me. It’s times like these I realize how lucky I am to be out here, ready to meet the moment when it comes.
Some campsites are definitely better than others, especially when it comes to watching the sunset. I thought it would be fun to include a photo of my chair where I sat taking the photos so maybe you can imagine yourself right there, right now, wherever you are in real life.
I love what you said, “being ready to meet the moment when it comes.” And yes, that campsite was definitely worth the move! I’m sitting on the tiny porch of our little cabin in Cedar Key right now, enjoying the view over the tidal flats. Thanks for your gorgeous photos and inspiring words!
Lovely images Annie. Nice to sit quiet and watch the sky change. It’s a magical moment.
Beautiful photos as always! I had a similar experience last weekend, capturing sunrise in Death Valley—each moment seemed prettier than the previous one! I’ll have to winnow them down, but for now I enjoy scrolling through the progression.
Thanks for the serenity. It’s been a very noisy winter here. With the rain and wind, I’ve woken up to chain saws more times than I care to remember. Today, guys are walking on the roof, using leaf blowers.to clean the gutters. Every Friday at 8 am, the landscapers come through with enough noisy equipment to keep the cat hiding under the bed all morning. Your pictures are the virtual escape I needed.
Great pictures. It reminds me, we all need to slow down and enjoy the ride! Some more than most (me) 🙂
Oh, so beautiful and peaceful!! Thank you for including the image with the chair, yes I can definitely imagine myself sitting there, having a nice hot tea while enjoying the sunset.
Wow, Annie! Breathtaking.