i belong to a private online group of mostly women photographers.  i say mostly because there are a few men but they’re usually quietly lurking in the background.  it’s hosted by wendy schulz – you get access to the forum by taking her amazing classes.  so in the forum , we tend to ask questions like, how did you get that picture to come out like that? or i need help with photoshop!! or how can i make a big batch of cosmos?  ya know, important things like that.  wha?  cosmos are important too!!!

i asked the ladies “what does a sunset mean to you?”.    here are there responses:

“They are relaxing and peaceful and some signify that I made it through the day, like seeing it just gives me a fresh burst of energy. But when they are brilliant and have the swirls of different colors and make the cool streaks across the sky- somewhere deep down (probably the kids part of me) feels special that God painted THAT picture just so that I would be thankful that I could see it.”

“To me the sunset signifies that life goes on. No matter what troubles I have encountered in my day, no matter how stressed I am or what is worrying me, the sun will set and rise again. It is such a release to know that the sun will go down and with it I can let go and start again.”

“Sunsets at the beach are my favorite when you get that big orange fireball sinking in th sky.. Sunsets In summer at home mean long walks after dinner, kids biking around the neighborhood screaming/ laughing and catching fireflys..sunsets in winter ( I’m talking like 4:30) mean hubby will
be home soon…”

“I love to see the sunset to know that it rises. Nothing stops the sunset and the sunrise. I love the colors, I love that it is a privlege to catch and watch a sunset before its too late. Most days are rushed and full of “stuff” but to actually see the sunset is relaxing and reassuring that it will rise the next morning.  Also, sunsets mean that bedtime is not far away!”

“Awe, joy, peace, gratitude. . . I always feel lucky when I happen to be outside during that golden time right before and during a sunset. I’m in awe of the beauty of this earth, joyful that I get to live in it, completely at peace in that moment, and thankful that I’m loved and have people to love. And I always want to share the sunset with them.”

they couldn’t have said it any better.  to me, a sunset means peace.  think about it – when you’re watching a sunset with others, it’s soooo quiet.  people are truly lost in their own private world.   and it means that no matter what life brings me throughout the day – good, bad or indifferent….the sun will set and it will rise to a new day with it a fresh clean slate. thank god for those fresh clean slates!!!

what does a sunset mean to you?

this was taken last month out of the window of an airplane at 35,000 ft. pretty cool huh?

~hugs