Here are two photos of a male and female hooded merganser, the male taken mid-afternoon and the female during the “golden hour,” just before the sun dips below the horizon. During the “golden hour”, the waning light provides a soft exposure of the subject while amplifying the reflected surface of the glassy water. The low angle only partially illuminates the duck, leaving much in deep shadow. Earlier in the day, the light is higher and more intense; more of the duck is lit, shadows and reflections diminished. The difference is apparent in these two shots, taken at the same spot, but 3 hours apart.
Throughout the day, the sun’s rays continually paint the earth like the hand of an artist on a canvas. The portraits subtly evolve in the changing light. It is one of the reasons I can sit for hours watching creatures move in and out of the light.
I am also an ice cream addict. My ice cream addiction is a family trait. My grandfather, Theo Troupis, was a candy maker. He also made “Ted’s” ice cream, which he sold in the Mendota Candy Kitchen, the “Kitch” for short.
I have ice cream just about every night, and not just a small scoop. I also insist on eating it with the smallest spoon. That way I can savor every mouthful, and maximize the time spent with this sweet cold treat.
For me, it’s the same with birds, animals, and the “golden hour.” No matter how many photos I take, I find it hard to break away. It is not that the next shot will be better; just that it will be different, and I want to savor the difference. Just like my next spoonful of Rocky Road.
God bless,
Christ