By Crystal Kemp
Chief Marketing Officer
Conway Corp., an ACA Connects Member
Last weekend Mike (my husband) and I went for a drive to take in some of the fall colors. With the shorter daylight hours, we ended up losing light so we decided to head to our favorite state park to watch the sunset.
The sun was setting as we were driving and Mike commented that we were most likely not going to make it to the park before sunset. That was okay, I could enjoy it as we drove. I really began to notice how the change in light was impacting the color on the trees. The colors seemed more vibrant at this time of day.
Mike is a professional photographer. I’ve learned to pay attention to light by watching him. He sees light in places and ways that amaze me. Sometimes I’ll see him hold up his hand just to study the light and shadows as they move across his hand. I’ve watched him use natural light, reflected light and sometimes make his own light using lighting equipment to create amazing portraits.
When I accompany him on a photo shoot, he sometimes asks me to hold a reflector. He’ll help guide it in a way that moves and bounces light – sometimes I can see what he is doing and at other times, I can’t see the impact at all until I see the image he captures.
All of this led me to think about being a light maker. Stay with me as I move from writing about actual light to symbolic light.
Actual light comes from the sun and it burns all the time. The light does not change. Darkness enters when the earth turns away from the sun.
In a year, where we hoped things would be normal again; and things definitely were not normal – it would be easy to turn away from the light without even realizing it was happening. To just allow our eyes to adjust to the shadows and darkness. And, maybe that is okay for a season.
But as we begin to move through this end-of-the-year season – I want to pay attention to the light. And maybe, be a light maker. To ask myself — If I hold up my hand and study the light, where (or who) is light coming from? Can I serve as a reflector and move and bounce light to help get rid of some of the shadows? Can I reflect light even if no one can see the impact of that light until much later?
We did not arrive at our destination in time for the sunset that evening. But arrived at what I refer to as second sunset. It is the time after the sun has dipped below the horizon – nautical twilight. The sun is between 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon and the light and colors are incredible.
Here’s to a season of second sunsets – where the reflections of our light are incredible.
I am thankful for you. Have the best Thanksgiving holiday available to you.