235. THE BLUE HOUR

235.

THE BLUE HOUR

The sun waits just

below the horizon,

skies soft and moody,

with a shimmering luster

so different from 

bright daylight.

Indigo wavelengths

scatter, dominate

and the earth reflects

a blue richness twice a day,

once coming up

and once going down.

*comments welcome

The light inside me flickers faintly

The blue hour is a brief period of twilight just before sunrise and just after sunset when the sky takes on a deep, cool blue hue. 

During this time, the sun sits just below the horizon. Indirect sunlight scatters through the atmosphere, and blue wavelengths dominate due to light absorption characteristics in the upper atmosphere. 

When and How Long It Lasts

Frequency: It happens twice a day: once in the morning before the sun comes up, and once in the evening after the sun goes down.
Duration: It typically lasts between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the weather and your location on Earth.
Location Effect: Regions closer to the equator experience a very fast transition, making the blue hour much shorter. Polar regions can experience much longer, extended blue hours or even none at all during peak winter or summer. 

Use in Photography

Photographers love the blue hour for its soft, even, and moody lighting. It creates a quiet, cinematic atmosphere that is very different from the bright warmth of the daytime or the golden tones of the golden hour. 

Cityscapes: Streetlights, building windows, and car tail lights pop nicely against the deep blue background.
Landscapes: Water surfaces reflect the rich blue tones smoothly, and dark silhouettes of trees or mountains stand out.