Post-solstice

We're more than a week past the winter solstice, but the days aren't noticeably longer yet. The sun began setting shortly after 4 pm today as Daisy and I left for a long walk along the cold, windy beach.

There are rewards for early sundowns, though. Like this view from the walking path.

Better and better

A virus kept me home from work today. The silver lining is that I was able to see and photograph an especially vivid sunset. It started with a dome-like yellow halo over the just-set sun (above). The sky got richer and lovelier with each passing minute. I could scarcely keep up.

I hope you'll click on the images to see them larger.


Birds and geese filled the sky at times, busily honking and crying to one another over the bay.


Slightly to the south, the crescent moon winked above the bare trees.


Darker and richer yet.


Until only a crimson stripe remained above the black horizon.

Thanksgiving Eve

After the sun sets, we can appreciate the sky's more subtle palette. I'm thankful for these restorative views literally in our front yard. In the crowded city, where the only distant view was straight up between buildings, I missed seeing big skies, looming purple cloud banks, and watercolor washes of peach and lavender from the horizon up to the evening star.

Illumination

This evening the sun was almost down by the time I ran in cheek-tingling winds to the beach at the end of our road. The sand and grasses glowed faintly peachy-pink. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

As I watched the sun set, a flock of gulls wheeled toward it. Eventually they disappeared over the trees just as the sun sank behind them.

There is one more photograph of tonight's sunset at my regular blog.

November 20, 2008

Just after the sun set in late afternoon, this pretty sky blossomed over the bay.
Click on the photograph to enlarge.

Last light, moonlight

In person this sunset afterglow was the rich color of rare steak. The moon winked at us over the bay.

October light

Click to see larger. Photo by Michael

Finally got a new camera

Last night's sunset reflected in our front window.

Labor Day

My brother took this photo from his boat in Mattapoisett Harbor as evening fell on Labor Day, September 1, 2008. I guess sunset appreciation runs in the family.

Click to enlarge.

O Tannenbaum

Thursday, August 21. Colliersville, New York. 10 a.m.



I think a moon atop the Christmas tree is every bit as good as a star, don't you?

Click photo to enlarge.

Wet and wild

Today started out sunny; Caroline and I walked the beach at mid-morning and picked dandelions.

By mid-afternoon the storms started rolling through from the west: lightning, thunder, and a series of heavy rains. Even as I took these photographs from the bike path and the beach tonight, another storm was heading our way from the southwest.


They are quite beautiful, especially when viewed along the sweep of Narragansett Bay.

Click photos to enlarge.

Nightfall, July 16

Click to enlarge.

See more here.

Stardust. Golden.

This cloud to our southwest turned different colors as the sun continued to set. (See more at my other blog.)


If you click on the photo above, you can make out the towers of the Newport Bridge. Soon its cables will be outlined in lights against the darkening sky.

Wait a minute

Please to click on pic.

You know what they say about New England weather.

This storm was spectacular. Be sure to visit my personal blog to see some creeptastic photos!

All's well that ends well.

Summer solstice plus one

Colorful sunsets are primarily a winter phenomenon here, but just now I glanced outside and saw this sky. The earth’s summer angle means I can’t easily photograph the sunset over water, but these colors are stunning nevertheless. A perfect end to an absolutely sublime June day!


Click to enlarge.

Goes out like a lamb

Early-spring sunset over Buttonwoods, Warwick, Rhode Island, from the west side of Oakland Beach.

Daylight Savings Time

One of the best decisions made by the government in recent years was to begin Daylight Savings Time on the second Sunday in March, rather than in April.


I cherish this extra hour of time along the shore with my camera, the setting sun, the floating gulls, and patterns in the sand.


Click on photos to enlarge.

Appetizer

While I was waiting for a pot of green and wax beans to boil for supper, I glanced out the front window and saw this.

Painterly sky

Brrrrr, it's cold outside. The wind is brisk, and where I stand with my back to the rock jetty on the point, I'm unprotected from chill blasts from the northwest.
Click on any photo to enlarge.


The sky makes all my shivering worthwhile. Tonight's show featured whispery brushstrokes, feathered clouds, and bands of subtle color.


These seagulls had somewhere to be – in a hurry.

Click here to see last night's sunset.

After 5 p.m.

The sun is setting later now.
Click any photo to enlarge.


But it's still winter – the tail-end, dirty-snow, muddy muck time of year.

Moving right along

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Now we begin to see the approach of spring in the northward march of each evening sunset. In a month or so I will no longer be able to photograph it over open water as I have since late fall; the lovely homes of Buttonwoods will intervene.

On the other hand, sundown arrives later and later each day and I will more often be home to catch the show from our porch.

Speaking of shows, last night's lunar eclipse was crystal-clear in the sharp cold air, and ravishing. Hope you caught it; the next one is in 2010.


A P photo

Unsettled

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
238 PM EST SUN FEB 10 2008

...ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW SQUALLS EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...



AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL CROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.



IT WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER BAND OF SNOW SQUALLS...WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE BRIEF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...GUSTY WINDS...AND POSSIBLY THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.

Update, 5:00 PM EST (Sunset)
Forecast: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. Wind chill values as low as -8. Breezy, with a west wind between 18 and 23 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph.

Pregame Show

It's Super Bowl Sunday! Go Pats. But first, we pause for sunset.
Click on any photo to enlarge.




A line of geese stretches down the middle of the bay.

January sky theater

Act I: On a blistering-cold blustery day (below), low clouds release plumes of snow ... which evaporates in the dry air before reaching the ground.


Click to enlarge any photo.


Act II: The moon rises over our dead-end street; house windows reflect the setting sun.



Act III: Did I mention the setting sun?



Act IV: The now-frozen photographer and her dog retreat to their warm house, where a roast chicken, a shot of brandy, and two good NFL conference championships await.

Curtain.

Snow is on the way

Without interesting clouds, sunsets could get monotonous. Winter weather brings frequent changes and varied displays, like these.



The forecast is calling for 4 to 12 inches of snow between midnight and the end of the day tomorrow. Clouds are gathering as we watch the sun go down this evening. Outdoors it is shivery-cold and ominously still. Several of my favorite feral cats have crouched under our cars for the night – no dummies. They know what's coming.

Sundog, sunset

2:20 pm


Click on any photograph to enlarge.

4:40 pm