WPC: The Golden Hour

This week, Cheri Lucas Rowlands tells us that “In photography, the ‘Golden Hour’ is the first and last hour of sunlight of the day, ” and challenges us to post photos taken during these golden hours.

I’m not often up and out for the morning’s golden hour, but I have on the odd occasion, been known to venture outside to witness the early morning sky.

Walking along our promenade early one morning, I caught the sun rising over the sea and bathing the sand in a wonderful golden glow.

Sunsets are more my thing, and in Venice whilst waiting for our speedboat taxi from the hotel, I was mesmerised by this gorgeous gold and lavender sky, reflected in the lagoon.

Travelling across the Venice Lagoon, the church of Santa Maria della Salute was sillhouetted against the golden backdrop of the setting sun.

In Wyoming, the Little Bighorn Battlefield with the grave markers of the two hundred and sixty-three soldiers who were killed during ‘Custer’s Last Stand’, looked so windswept and sombre under the rays of the setting sun. We arrived just as the attendant was closing the gates, but he kindly allowed us in for just a couple of minutes.

A much more cheerful golden hour was the one caught in New England when we went leaf-peeping in 2001. It had been raining for most of the day, and late in the afternoon, this double rainbow appeared.

To see more bloggers’ entries for this challenge, just click here.

On Earth Day…….Love is the answer.

On this Earth Day, 2013, I decided to share this wonderful song which I remember England Dan and John Ford Coley recorded in 1976. The words, “Love is the answer” are still as true now as they were then, but the ‘ticket to paradise’ is just as elusive.

“Name your price
A ticket to paradise
I can’t stay here any more
And I’ve looked high and low
I’ve been from shore to shore to shore
If there’s a short cut I’d have found it
But there’s no easy way around it

Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer
Shine on us all, set us free
Love is the answer

Tell me, are we alive, or just a dying planet?
What are the chances?
Ask the man in your heart for the answers

And when you feel afraid, love one another
When you’ve lost your way, love one another
When you’re all alone, love one another
When you’re far from home, love one another
When you’re down and out, love one another
All your hope’s run out, love one another
When you need a friend, love one another
When you’re near the end, love one another
We’ve got to love one another.”

Here are just a few pics of some of the natural wonders of our world, which I’ve been privileged to see. The amazing wild animals, some of which are in danger of extinction because man has neglected to properly protect and care for their well-being. “Love is the answer.”

Another song which also came to mind, of  is of course, “What a wonderful world.” How amazing are the truly natural wonders of our world.

We need to really care for this wonderful world we live in, to ensure its preservation for our children and our children’s children. Love is the answer.

New England in The Fall, for Jake’s theme.

Jake’s Sunday Post theme this week, is ‘Autumn’, and although it’s Springtime here in South Africa, I remembered that I have some lovely photos taken a few years ago, on a visit to New England in the Fall. This was something I’d always wanted to experience, ever since a friend who used to live there, told me about the beautiful colours of the foliage to be seen at this time of year. It was in October, some time around Columbus day, and the pumpkins were out in force.

Porches were already decked out for Halloween.

We travelled around Vermont, staying in various B&B’s along the way. This one is ‘Mapletown Inn’ in the historic hamlet of Mapletown, on route 7. It dates back to 1810, and was used in the mid 19th century as a safe house for black slave fugitives who were fleeing to a better life in Canada.

The scenery was spectacular, and it’s hard to choose which pics I love the most.

I loved the movie, ‘The Bridges of Madison County’, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, and have also read the book, so was absolutely thrilled to see some of these wonderful covered bridges for myself.

I said that I didn’t know which pics I like the best, but at the end of the final day of our trip, we had the most wonderful photo opportunity, with the sun showing its face after a cloudy rainy day. Just before sunset, it came out to play, together with a stunning rainbow.

What more could I wish for?

Can you spot the Bennington Obelisk in this last photo? It’s a battle monument, and at 93 metres, is the tallest structure in Vermont.

I can tell you that this was the best time I’ve ever had in Autumn. So much beauty, and an American road trip which I’ll never forget.

To see more entries for Jake’s theme, just click here.