Tuesday 16 November 2010

A blink reveals

A heavy frost makes every surface glitter under the sodium street lights. As the sun's warm tangerine glow invades the inky sky, silhouetted trees are revealed in winter nakedness. Their three dimensional fractal structure becomes apparent as we move and they seem to turn.

An apple tree stripped of all its leaves still bears its fruit, dangling golden globes, a natural rendition of our Christmas trees artifice.

The early birds take wing, flocks of crows rising from their rookeries. Below lights appear as households rise from slumber, shower, and break their night fast.

The sky is now baby blue, tinged pink at the horizon. The sun's appearance immanent. Frost lays thickly white on roofs and fields. Every scene begs a photographer to brace the icy dawn and capture the image in sepia tones.

The clouds at the horizon herald the rising of the sun, illuminated by its glow. Soon now it will bathe us in its rays, casting shadows where its light does not reach. The cloud colour intensifies, brilliant oranges, dramatic reds, a horizon on fire. After the long slow build-up the sun is suddenly there, its shape only visible when a blink reveals its lingering imprint on the retina.

A mist rises, then falls heavier as rain. The sun breaks through the fog, its colour leached to an icy white.

Winter's day is here.

No comments:

Post a Comment