On golden palm

In the palm of your hand
Delray Beach, FL
December 2008

Golden hour is that sliver of time late in the day when the setting sun paints the world in shades and colors that have the potential to take your breath away. Things that may have seemed ordinary around lunchtime suddenly come alive as flat whites give way to richly toned hues of yellow and orange. I know that all of this can be explained by the complex interactions of light and atmosphere, but understanding the science of optics doesn't make the impact on the soul any less magical.

In many ways, it isn't so much about the color. Rather, I think it's the softness of the light that stands out. There's a glow, a depth that grabs your eye and keeps you staring until the darkening horizon puts a temporary end to the optical fun. Tomorrow's always another day: Just be there with your camera.

I had been taking pictures of the palm trees beside the pool off and on for much of the day. While the kids swam, I wandered the deck and, in between keeping them from annoying each other - and other swimmers - too much, tried to capture these incredible trees with at least a slight twist on the familiar subtropical theme.

The light gave out long before our kids did, and soon after I got this shot I had to haul them out of the shadowy pool area and get them home. Tomorrow would arrive soon enough for them as well.

Your turn: What does golden hour look like in your neck of the woods?