June 21, 2010

The Treshold Of Light...

... or "My Ode To June Sunsets".

Today's summer solstice marks the culmination of our Scandinavian white nights. It feels like it was just yesterday the longest night was upon us, which meant the onset of the best part of the year; alas now we are heading in the opposite direction. Even though light evenings will be granting us their stunning presence until the beginning of August, the end of June marks the end of a certain magical period that always seems to be gone before it even begun.

White nights fill me with an endless feeling of awe and astonishment. They bring so much enchantment to my surroundings, lifting my spirits and reinforcing my belief in the mysterious. No wonder that already the ancient man built neolithic monuments to celebrate the event of the solstices.

Each evening, the June sun bestows upon us sunset shows that take my breath away.
As the golden disk moves slowly towards the skyline almost twenty hours after it has risen, it turns into a large, fiery globe, instigating moments of great anticipation. Its shape seems to float above the Earth, as if guided by an unseen hand until it meets the horizon in a covert kiss, upon which it spills across the sky like molten steel. Moving slowly out of sight, while colouring our northwestern skies blood red at midnight, the sun only disappears out of view for a short while, never really vanishing, leaving behind strokes of rainbow shades. Simultaneously, the northeast is already the colour of silver. As we move into the small hours of the morning, the imminent sunrise alters the silver sky first into platinum and then the colour of rose gold. In the stillness of the night, day breaks with all its splendor. The golden disk reappears from its short slumber, casting a violet glow across a dewy landscape. And the bird song begins.

Rising almost five hours earlier then in winter, the midnight sun adds about eleven hours more light to our summer days. As we cross the threshold of light, I will try to savour every moment of the longest day and disregard the sharp sting of melancholy, that its departure always instigates in the very core of my being...

The below is a series of photographs taken from my windows during a dramatic sunset two days prior to the summer solstice. As the night progressed, the skies became clear and the splendor of a stunning white night a reality.
Please click the images for a larger view.




33 comments:

Kath said...

Those beautiful photos make me wish I could paint, but Nature does it best.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Thank you for drawing me into the magic of once again becoming one with the sky and endless depths beyong them.

Life has used me a chew toy today. Your words were truly healing. Thanks. I'm glad I discovered your blog. Come visit mine : WRITING IN THE CROSSHAIRS. I write historical and urban fantasy. Roland

Regina said...

Hello Zuzana. Wow such wondrful and amzing post.
I enjoy watching the skies in my window as well.
Love the summer sunset when the colors and hues radiates in such splendors.

Have a wonderful week.
xo

Avo said...

I imagine it's a bad time for trolls and vampires. : j Lovely pictures.

Ca88andra said...

It sounds like an awesome time of year. I'd love to experience it sometime.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

These pictures are extraordinary, so very beautiful! Wishing you a grand day!!! Cathy

S. Susan Deborah said...

Seeing the pictures I so much want to come and visit the place. Let's see. Sometime.

In the meanwhile Zuzana, keep enjoying the place for all of us who are far far away.

Lots of love,
Susan

Gal Friday said...

I was thinking of you and your fondness for these long days(or "white nights" as you call them) when I noted today's date.(last day of school and exams for my daughter today, too)

The sunset photos are stunning--thank goodness you have such a view of the sky from your house and the willingness to record these displays of nature and to share them with us.

Brian Miller said...

it truly is a magical time...your pictures are amazing...would love to see it one of these days...though i can through your pics. smiles.

Unknown said...

Your pictures are always amazing. I have enjoyed looking at these night shots in your posts.
Have a good day...:)

Keith said...

These are such stunning photos. I love the summer solstice. I hope you will have a wonderful summertime.

Claus said...

Astonishing pictures! very beautiful indeed, pictures and natural phenomenon. Not something we get to appreciate here. I was just thinking today that within two months, there will be an inevitably change in weather; still raining, possible hurricanes and tropical storms, but an inevitable reach towards the last quarter of the year. Time flies!
Off to enjoy a hopefully long day. Pity is a Monday ;-)
have a great day!

Bossy Betty said...

Thank you SO much for taking us, through words and pictures to this glorious place!

Mike Minzes said...

Wow. Nice progression pictures!

Reading Tea Leaves said...

Stunning pictures of the "white nights" sky Zuzana. Your love for them shines through in your poignant description. Thank you for sharing with us the view from your window,

Enjoy this wonderful time dear friend.

Jeanne
xox

Nessa said...

Stunning solstice skies.

sprinkles said...

You always manage to capture the most beautiful sunsets!

I remember when I was in school, the teacher asked us if the sun and the moon stayed in the sky all the time or if they went away when they weren't shining. I distinctly remember saying they went away, although I had no clue where I thought they may have gone to. I was certain my teacher was wrong when she said the sun and the moon were always there!

Sumandebray said...

the magic of nature... You are lucky to be there and we are lucky that you are there

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Dearest Zuzana,

I have never experienced the Summer Solstice...and I almost envy your regular communion with it...*someday*, I say...but in the meantime I will revel and relish your stunning photography...and find food for my hungry soul...Thank you for describing this breathtaking beauty with your always poetic words as well...Through you, I truly experience the glory of nature...Thank you, dear friend. Thank you with all my heart! Love, Janine XO

Anonymous said...

Oh wow... a Scandinavian white night would be something to experience at least once in my life! Stunning sunsets, Zuzana! :)

steviewren said...

Thanks for posting photos of the night. I thought of you as I prepared my supper tonight...when I realized that today was the 21st...summer solstice. You have the perfect location for celebrating the day.

Absolutely Ladylike said...

Dearest Zuzana, I can't tell how much I miss those white nights in Scandinavia...it's truly one of the most beautiful magic of nature and worth to tolerate those long and cold winters over there...I remember when I lived in Norway I used to go running in the woods around 10 in the evening cause it was still light even at 11PM when I finished my exercise...

I'll never forget those nights...

Thanks for bring it back to me :-)

Much love: Evi

禎峰 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Rajesh said...

Fabulous sunset shots of amazing colors. This late night white sky is amazing phenomenon that is not witnessed in my part of world.

Anonymous said...

Amazing shots! xxx

Zuzana said...

Kath, Roland (welcome), Regina, Alesa, Ca88andra (welcome), Cathy, Susan, Tina, Brian, Mr. Stupid, Keith, Claudia, Betty (welcome), Realliveman, Jeanne, Nessa, sprinkles, Sumandebray, Janine, Tony, Stevie, Evi, Rajesh and Mel, I am so glad I could share the magic of the Scandinavian solstice with you. It is the most magical time of the year.

Thank you everyone for your kind words about the images, I wish I could convey the feeling of the wonder of June sunset, as they appear much more enchanting than any words can describe.

Xoxo,
Zuzana

Unknown said...

Amazing shots. How the sky is painted so beautifully.

Zuzana said...

Thank you so much dear Keats.;)) As your nick implies, I guess you love the sun.;) xo

Keera Ann Fox said...

There is nothing like the light of a white night. Nothing. I feel privileged to live in a part of the world where I can experience the delicacy and subtleness of summer evenings, which don't have midnight suns, but do have the blush of sunset moving straight into sunrise during the middle of the night.

Your pictures have captured this magical light so beautifully, Zuzana.

Cheryl Kohan said...

Perfect! Just perfect.

Zuzana said...

Keera and Cheryl, thank you ladies for your lovely words, xoxo

Hilary said...

Just gorgeous. I would so love to see a sunset happen that late at night. It's magical to me.

Zuzana said...

Hilary, I am so late with my response, but you know I love when you stop by dear friend. xo