Thursday 26 February 2015

Twilight Moments …

The twilight zone.

That elusive time just before dawn and dusk.

These moments in the day fascinate and enthral me.  Each and every day they change, minute by minute they change.  No two are the same.  I have hundreds of photos in my archives.  To say I am an obsessed is perhaps an exaggeration but I do seem to take photos everyday of the sun setting or rising. I would have thought there was a special word for my condition, but on checking, have found there is none.  Maybe I should make one up – I am a Twilightologist – how’s that.

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“And yet day and night meet fleetingly at twilight and dawn," he said, lowering his voice again and narrowing his eyes and moving his head a quarter of an inch closer to hers. "And their merging sometimes affords the beholder the most enchanted moments of all the twenty four hours. A sunrise or sunset can be ablaze with brilliance and arouse all the passion, all the yearning, in the soul of the beholder.”
Mary Balogh, A Summer to Remember

“There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them.”
Jo Walton

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Twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with a star - Lucy Maud Montgomery

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The past is the beginning of the beginning and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn – H.G. Wells

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You cannot, in human experience, rush into the light.  You have to go through the twilight into the broadening day before the noon comes and the full sun is on the landscape – Woodrow Wilson

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Twilight – a time of pause when nature changes her guard.  All living things would fade and die from too much light or too much dark, if twilight were not. – Howard Thurman

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And as the evening twilight fades away the sky is filled with stars invisible by day. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Twilight, a timid fawn, went glimmering by, and Night, the dark-blue hunter, followed fast. – George Wm. Russell

Sometimes the camera just cannot capture the jaw-dropping beauty of the twilight zone and sometimes these moments just look so unreal that you cannot believe they actually happened.  Mother Nature is so generous with her gifts.  I applaud her.

58 comments:

  1. I was thinking twilightophile. No wonder it inspires poetry. Lover of Twilight would be a good title for your next novel

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    1. I'll keep that in mind for the future Sue.

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  2. I do love those moments too, I have always thought that there is a special magic energy around that moment that only a few can feel.
    Beautiful photos!

    Lluisa xoxo

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    1. Thanks Lluisa. Yes they are magical moments.

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  3. Hello Elaine,

    You are quite right about these borders of night and day. They do have magical qualities and the light is particularly intense in its colourings. As you say, on occasion, the scenic effects look totally fantastic rather than natural. Nature does do it best!

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    1. Sometimes they are truly spectacular and take your breath away - and I feel lucky to have witnessed such beauty.

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  4. Super photos and probably the most peaceful part of the day.

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    1. Thanks Rooko - I have to agree about the peaceful part.

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  5. A most enjoyable post and wonderful pictures. I'd agree that there is something slightly magical at those times and I'm surprised that there isn't a name for people like yourself who find it so fascinating. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty. I was surprised myself that there was no name for it.

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  6. You captured this unique and wondrous time perfectly with beautiful twilight photos and inspiring words! Last night we had the most beautiful pink sunset with it's pink shadows landing on the white snow. It does take your breathe away!! I also love twilight time!

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  7. Fabulous. They remind me of tropical holidays. Even when it's cold I am feeling warmth.

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    1. I've never had a tropical holiday - but they certainly warm the cockles of your heart.

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  8. Gorgeous. I tend to see more sunsets than sunrises, especially this time of year. I took an iphone photo of the sun setting the other day as it reflected on the snow. I'll share it my next post.

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    1. I get annoyed when I miss the moment just before sunrise and the first thing I do when I wake is to pull the curtains back in anticipation.

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  9. stunning images! They are magical times of the day and I am inspired now to start photographing, but maybe not today as it is raining steadily here today, so I think dusk may be a rather grey affair :(

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    1. We had rain most of the day too - but there's always tomorrow.

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  10. The best things in life are free aren't they Elaine ? Absolutely beautiful images …. they are over in a moment. XXXX

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    1. I agree - they don't cost anything and give so much pleasure to those who appreciate them - like me!

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    1. They are amazing aren't they - and no editing needed.

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  12. I love the idea of a twilightologist! Everyone should have an ology! They are so beautiful and so ever changing, and I don't think that you can ever have too many pictures of the sunset and sunrise, or the clouds, or just plain old blue sky - which seems so elusive right now! xx

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    1. Ha ha - you're right everyone should have an 'ology'. I am always looking skyward I find everything about it fascinating and camera worthy.

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  13. Just gorgeous captures of nature's beauty ~ and the quotes you've shared are so aptly chosen. How could one not love that time of day, when it is named 'twilight' :) The word 'crepuscular' comes to mind. From http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/crepuscular --

    The adjective crepuscular describes anything that's related to twilight, like the crepuscular glow of the dimming light on a lake as darkness falls.

    If the light outside is fading, you can call it crepuscular. Anything that resembles dusk, or happens at that time of day, is crepuscular, whether it's gloomy indoor light or the sky at twilight. Some animals are also crepuscular: they tend to be most active in the evening. The Latin root word says it all — crepusculum means "twilight."

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    1. I love the word twilight but not so much crepuscular which sounds vaguely mollusc like!

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  14. I love Twilight time and your pictures are beautiful! Sx

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  15. Of course Gloaming is another word for Twilight so how about having Harry Lauder's tune running through your head all day ~ Roamin' in the Gloamin'

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qU75Xgmlww

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    1. I was singing Just a Song at Twilight whilst I was writing the post.

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  16. If I choose to walk to the end of the lane I can watch the sun set into the sea. At dawn there is often a mist hovering over the water like a blanket. Very mysterious and beautiful. I often think of the Piper at the Gates of Dawn from The Wind in the Willows.

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    1. Sounds beautiful Susan. And yes very like that piece from Wind in the Willows - one of my favourite books.

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  17. I love Lucy Maud Montgomery's quote - Twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with a star - and also the beautiful image that you have placed it under.
    I am always fascinated by how quickly the sky changes and alters. If you do not have your camera to hand, 2 minutes looking for it and all can be literally lost from the sky.

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    1. The moments are so fleeting aren't they - as soon as I see a rosy glow on the buildings opposite our house I know we're in for a good sunset and rush upstairs to capture it.

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  18. NO NO NO you captured it alright! My heavens are those shots extraordinary! I have always loved silhouettes and you really got the most amazing silhouettes up there! Makes me happy just to see them! Beautiful post pal! And you are so right there is something ultra special about them! Twilightologist it is!!! Nicole xoxo

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    1. We are lucky in that we only have fields and no buildings to obstruct such wonderful sights.

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  19. Your photos are breathtaking Elaine, each one. You say you are obsessed which is funny because recently my 4 yr old grand daughter has been 'assessed' with everything...you name it!

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    1. Thank you Jane. It's funny how children get words wrong isn't it - cute though!

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  20. Beautiful. Keep 'em coming, Elaine! In my dreams, it's often twilight or just after. Dark, moody, not a little mysterious.

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  21. Such magical times of day and night but so many of us miss them as life gets in the way. Your photos have been inspiring, Elaine and I love the term Twilightologist - perfect:)

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    1. You are right Rosie I wonder how many lovely moments I have missed whilst busy doing other things - that's life I guess.

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  22. A Twilightologist devoted to Delightatism... Perhaps there is not a word for it but the envelopment of twilight envies that of just before dawn when the world seems at peace with itself and we can revel in the beauty.
    All the ones you have captured Elaine are beautiful.
    Enjoy the weekend and smell those lovely flowers you spoke of for me...
    Susan x

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    1. I often think of dawn as being the time when the day decides what it is going to do - and it often turns out to be the best part. Have a lovely weekend Susan.

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  23. They are wonderful images, the sun rising on a morning has to be my favourite time of day.
    Amanda xx

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    1. I am a morning person - so always like to be up and about as the sun rises and it never fails to please me.

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  24. You did a nice job capturing the moment, but I think it is always hard for a camera to capture the sheer expanse of the sun setting on the horizon. My favourite moment at dusk is the few minutes when sun meets earth and the sun sits right on the horizon. It is as if nature bowing to our applause.

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    1. We used to have one of those panoramic cameras which would have been ideal for these sort of shots - not sure what actually happened to it. To see the sun slowly disappear behind the trees never fails to make me gasp.

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  25. What a beautiful collection of twilights, I especially loved the last one. Some lovely, interesting quotes here....I too am a twilightologist, what a wonderful word! I always think of twilight as the time when earth and air meet and become one.xxx

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    1. I like the sound of the earth and air meeting as one - from one twilightologist to another - have a lovely weekend.

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  26. Fabulous photos Elaine of a really magical time of day. I like the image of a star pinning down twilight's curtain. In the absence of any other word a twilightologist sounds most apt :)

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    1. I love that quote too and the last one about the twilight glimmering by and night being a dark-blue hunter.

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  27. It's the most beautiful moment of the day...next to the space of time that dawn peeks over the mountains. Gorgeous shots, and a beautiful collection of quotes. I think the Lucy Maude Montgomery one is stunning...sigh.

    Jen

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    1. I agree that they are special and beautiful moments - I love that quote too - just a few words that convey the message so aptly.

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  28. To say 'such beautiful images and words' seems an inadequate response ... but I cannot compete with the eloquence and insight of all those you've quoted here.

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  29. Absolutely beautiful twilight moments! I share your love of this special time of day especially when you can see the sun set! Sarah x

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    1. Thank you Sarah. Like you I just love these special moments.

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