Week #4

So, last night I drove from Irvine all the way to my hometown, Arroyo Grande, to see a show that was playing for just this weekend. My favorite part of this drive is the area of highway, known as "The Screaming Eagles Highway" according to the sign, where the road is parallel to the beach on one side and faces the mountains on the other. I make this drive frequently, and I always look out my window to watch the sun as it sets over the ocean. It was hard to capture the beauty of what I saw with my camera, especially since I was taking the photo one-handed while trying not to drive off of the road, but I was once again amazed at the spectacle of colors I saw.

The clouds were the most beautiful shade of pink and the sky surrounding them was a mix of red, orange, and yellow. You can't tell from this picture, but the ocean was stunning as well. The area that was reflecting the rays of the sun was a much brighter blue, and the rest of the water expanding from that point took on a slightly darker shade. It's funny now that I know a little bit more about lighting and the way colors work- in terms of transmission and how much white light is being pushed through- I couldn't help but think about these things in the back of my mind as I viewed this sunset. I admit that sometimes it still hurts my brain to think about why I am seeing the color I am seeing, and what makes this orange sky appear orange, but at least I know that what I am learning and studying in this lighting design class is at least in some respect impacting my everyday life and changing the way I view the world around me.