Being on vacation makes it easier to see the world in a different way, and one thing I’m trying to do – now, and when I get back home – is to notice the light.
The sun’s strength at different times of day – the shapes and colors of clouds – the clarity of the atmosphere – shadows – moonlight – I’m making a conscious effort to notice and appreciate it all.
In his extraordinary essay on painting, Painting as a Pastime, Winston Churchill wrote about the pleasure he got from noticing colors and light, and also the relief from anxiety that this kind of detached, aesthetic pleasure gave him.
Paying attention to light makes every possible vista more beautiful. Try it. Look at even a dull or ugly scene, and focus on the quality of the light. The view suddenly looks far more compelling and lovely.
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