Light Observation 2

1) 2/6/13 Netherlands North Courtyard, 5:30 P.M.

2) At this time the sun was slowly fading, setting and moving behind clouds. There was a dark blue in the sky giving just enough light for visibility, yet dark enough for the lamp-post lights to come on and their light be noticeable. Each lamp-post was, in contrast to the rest of the light environment, very bright at the top. Directly underneath the lamp, the pole and a circle around the post was covered in shadow. Outside of this ring of shadow, a pattern of straight lines of light formed on the ground, dispersing outward and blending with the remainder of the sunlight. This was happening at each lamp-post. The edge of each ring of light coming from each lamp-post in the courtyard barely overlapped each other and gave the illusion of a path.

3) Stepping out from the Netherlands building I could clearly see the path laid out in front of me. The light on the ground was inviting and showed me a way. But it also said something else. Even at the heart of the circles of light there was still shadow. Amidst light there is darkness. Looking up into the sky at the fading daylight I thought the same thing. Behind the darkness there is light. The two are intertwined so much so that as one fades the other grows to take its place. As the sun sets the street lights come up to give the illusion of day and to provide necessary light. When the sun rises shadows come to provide shade and a contrast the light.

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