Pan the Sky

The Northern Lights. A star lit night. A sunrise. A sunset. All Nature’s way of beautifully showing us how small we truly are in the vastness of the universe. There is a special kind of calmness found in these moments. A sense of peace I get nowhere else.

I am lucky to live along the shores of Thunder Bay in northeast Michigan. Aptly named the sunrise side, we get some of the most beautiful sunrises around. But every once in a while, we are blessed with a glimpse of a sunset. There is something magical about the time just after the sun has dipped below the horizon. For a few brief moments, the sky is transformed with a palette full of deep rich colors. The calming hues of pink, orange, and purple, create a stunning backdrop for any photo - or just a peaceful moment to enjoy in silence. 

The uniqueness of this shot was created by holding my camera shutter open and slowly panning across Thunder Bay. This technique smooths the choppiness of the waves while softening and blending the colors of the post sunset glow. Standing on the beach, I pointed my camera to the north with the sun setting directly to my left, the colors bouncing off the atmosphere and filling the sky. I only had about 5 minutes before the colors started to dim and blue hour crept in. The moment passing just as quickly as it began.

Those last few moments before darkness sets in are heavy with symbolism, bringing a glorious end to another day. A day full of new opportunities, chances at new beginnings, time with loved ones and a hope for a better tomorrow. It’s a reminder that not all endings are bad. In fact, they can be just as beautiful as beginnings.