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The front entrance of the Academy of Music Opera House

For me, there is something so magically beautiful about that golden light which appears as the sun rises and sets each day.

Being someone who is more of a night person than a day person, I have a special affinity for sunsets. However, I have witnessed and enjoyed a few sunrises throughout my life, and found them equally as beautiful. Well...that's only when I'm awake for a sunrise, which is RARE.

I remember going on a 4-day spiritual retreat in the wilderness about six years ago; awakening each morning at about 5:30. I sat in a recliner chair while sipping my morning coffee, watching the sunlight trickle between the bare trees, until it made the whole forest glow with slivers of golden light and shadows. It was truly stunning.

Now, because it's winter, I've been taking walks through the city at about 4-4:30 PM on my days off, trying to capture that golden glow as the sun begins to set.

Sunsets are very different in a city than in more rural areas. The golden light is not seen through trees, but rather through buildings - yet it can be just as beautiful.

Instead of nature, we experience it through an urban jungle. Because of the tall buildings, the warm golden light projects itself through concrete, stone, brick and steel; causing a severe and jagged contrast between light and shadow.

And I find that rawly beautiful.

Here are some photographs I took over the past few weeks. Some I snapped while walking around the city, others from my apartment windows.

Please enjoy...


An office building along Broad Street, Center City.


The arch of the Kimmel Center of the Performing Arts, Center City.


A high-rise apartment building off Locust Street, Center City.


Gold leaves caught in a subway grate on the sidewalk. As the air below the ground would blow, the leaves would stand at attention.


A view (looking east) from my apartment widow.


I took this shot of a building through my apartment window, using my zoom lens. I love the single spot of golden light. It looks like natures spotlight!

And then I zoomed in even closer to get a voyeuristic view; hoping to see someone naked in the windows.

But no such luck.

Damn it!


Happy Monday, y'all!


51 comments:

  1. These are such beautiful photos, Ron. You are incredibly talented! I can almost feel the warmth of the sun's rays in these images.


    Sorry you didn't capture anybody's bare butt, but I know you'll keep trying!


    Have a great week, buddy, and keep snapping away!

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  2. Beautiful captures of something so fleeting. I especially liked how the leaves are the same color as some of the buildings. I could go for some of that warmth right now. Have a fabulous Cyber Monday!

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  3. Beautiful photos Ron, truly beautiful! I love sunrise. On a Caribbean cruise a few years ago, I use to wake early just so I could sit on our balcony onboard ship with a cup of tea and watch the sunrise - absolutely magical.

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  4. I love that 'golden' time. Seriously--I try to get out in time to capture a bit of it--colours pop and the world takes on a much different tone and feel. Everything softens up.
    Sunrise or sunset--there's a light show waiting! I try to catch it daily. It's a spiritually filled moment for me and it keeps me 'right sized'. Hahaha...pretty sure the Big Guy made the light show twice a day for folks JUST like me who needed that reminder. ;-)


    AWESOME photos. I kept waiting for the leaves to wiggle and the light to move bit, by bit.....
    Happy Monday, sir....here's to a slower work week than what you experienced on Friday! ;-)

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  5. Very poetic post Ron and some great photos.
    I'm a big fan of early morning light too, getting up at 4.45 most days as I do, because of the sights you see driving to work through the countryside. The deer, pheasants and rabbits who inhabit the roadside fields give me real pleasure in that early glow that chases away the night.

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  6. I needed these sunny shots on this cold, grey morning, Ron -- how did you know that?!


    II hadn't thought of how the sun spotlights buildings in urban areas -- how cool is that? Here, it's so flat that we can get some amazing shots of the sun as it's coming up and going down (if one is Johnny-on-the-spot with a camera, that is!)


    Nice touch in your last photo -- the little guy with his tongue sticking out! Just like you, playful and FUN!


    Happy Monday.

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  7. Great photographs, Ron! You really captured the beautiful golden glow of a sunset within a city. I'm more of a night person than a day person as well. One of my favorite things to do when I visit Key west is to go to Mallory Square and watch the sun set. It's so beautiful!

    I love the photograph of the gold leaves on the subway grate. You have a great eye for photographing interesting things. That last photograph of the little guy peeking out the window with his tongue hanging out made me laugh. Very funny!

    Have a wonderful week, Ron x

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  8. Hey there Rob!

    Thank you :) I really love this time of the year when the sun sets early. The only problem is getting out there early enough to capture it because it seems to start at about 4 in the afternoon. Come mid-December, the sun will be setting about 3 in the afternoon.

    "Sorry you didn't capture anybody's bare butt, but I know you'll keep trying!"



    HAHAHAHAHA! I know, damn it. Oh well...maybe next time.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a most excellent week!

    X

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  9. Hiya Bijoux!

    "Beautiful captures of something so fleeting."

    Thank you. And you're right, it is so fleeting - especially around this time of the year when the sun sets so early.

    "I could go for some of that warmth right now."



    Yup, it's cold here today as well. The past few days it's been a bit warmer, but then today the temps dropped again. Plus, it's gray, so it feels colder.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend! Have a super week!


    X

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  10. Thank you, Pearl :)

    "On a Caribbean cruise a few years ago, I use to wake early just so I could sit on our balcony onboard ship with a cup of tea and watch the sunrise - absolutely magical."



    OMG....I can only imagine how magical that must have been. And I bet on a ship (with only the ocean to surround you) the sunrise was MAGNIFICENT!


    Much thanks for stopping by, m'dear! Have a lovely Monday and week!


    X

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  11. Hiya Mel!

    "Seriously--I try to get out in time to capture a bit of it--colours pop and the world takes on a much different tone and feel. Everything softens up."

    OMG...your photographs of the sunsets and sunrises in your part of the country are SPECTACULAR! In fact, you're the reason I got the inspiration for this post.

    "Sunrise or sunset--there's a light show waiting! I try to catch it daily. It's a spiritually filled moment for me and it keeps me 'right sized'."

    You're absolutely right, it's a "spiritual" moment!

    " I kept waiting for the leaves to wiggle and the light to move bit, by bit....."



    It was so funny to watch the leaves suddenly stand at attention, every time the air from the subway below would blow. It looked as though they were DANCING - HA!


    Happy Monday to you too, dear lady. Have a faaaaabulous week!


    X


    P.S. Yes, the week after Black Friday does slow down a bit. I have today and tomorrow off, so I'm going to enjoy it.

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  12. Thank you, Dale :)

    "...as I do, because of the sights you see driving to work through the countryside. The deer, pheasants and rabbits who inhabit the roadside fields give me real pleasure in that early glow that chases away the night."



    OMG...I could actually SEE that as you were describing it! And from the wonderful photos that you've shared on your blog, showing the area in which you live, I bet it's magnificent!


    Much thanks for stopping by, buddy. Have a most excellent week!


    X

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  13. Helloooooooooooo there Debbie!

    "I needed these sunny shots on this cold, grey morning, Ron -- how did you know that?!"

    HA! Yes, we're having the same kind of day here in Philadelphia - very grey and cold. And it's funny because the past few days over the weekend it seemed to be warming up a bit.

    "II hadn't thought of how the sun spotlights buildings in urban areas -- how cool is that?"

    Yes, it's such a different look in a city. And even more so in a city like NY, where the buildings are taller and tighter together. You see POPS of golden light shinning from above the darkness below. It's very cool.

    "Nice touch in your last photo -- the little guy with his tongue sticking out! Just like you, playful and FUN!"



    Tee, hee....I just couldn't resist editing that little guy in the window!


    Much thanks for stopping by, dear lady. Have a beautiful Monday and week!


    X

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  14. Hola Denise!

    Thank you :)

    " I'm more of a night person than a day person as well. One of my favorite things to do when I visit Key west is to go to Mallory Square and watch the sun set. It's so beautiful!"

    Yes! Yes! I remember visiting Key West when I still lived in Florida and going to Mallory Square to watch the sunset. OMG...it was gorgeous! In fact, the whole experience of going down to the pier was so much fun - the musicians, magicians, and artists!

    "That last photograph of the little guy peeking out the window with his tongue hanging out made me laugh. Very funny!"



    Tee, hee! You know me, I could resist sticking that little guy in the widow with his tongue hanging out. I did that last minute, just before I published this post last night.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Have a wonderful week as well!


    X

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  15. Love your photos. There is just something almost magical about sunsets no matter where you are. I don't see too many sunrises either because I find it difficult to pull these bones out of those warm comfy blankets!

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  16. I love how the setting sun makes even the urban jungle look warm and inviting. And the leaves in the subway grate are an excellent capture. Hope you didn't lose your keys or debit card down there while crouching down for the shot!

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  17. What a beautifully expressed post, Ron. As Dale said, poetic. I love the angles you shot these photographs. The arch is way cool. And you really get a sense of the size of that apartment building. The shot of the leaves in the subway grate is outstanding.


    Now that I have a camera, I should try my hand at taking sunset/ sunrise pictures. See, you inspire me.

    And you had me laughing my ass off at the little smiley guy peeking throught the window. You are a riot, dude!

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  18. Hiya Suzi!

    Thank you :)

    " There is just something almost magical about sunsets no matter where you are."

    I agree! Sunsets make every place look magical!

    " I don't see too many sunrises either because I find it difficult to pull these bones out of those warm comfy blankets!"



    HA! Thank you! And me as well!


    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a marvi Monday and week!!


    X

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  19. Hiya Matt!

    Thank you, buddy :) I have this 'thing' for shooting images from low angles. It gives a greater depth of field I think.

    "Now that I have a camera, I should try my hand at taking sunset/ sunrise pictures.

    Yes, try it, bud! The camera that you got (which is the one I used to have) takes great sunset/sunrise pictures too.

    "And you had me laughing my ass off at the little smiley guy peeking throught the window."



    Tee, hee...I couldn't resist.


    Much thanks for stopping by, Matt. Have a wonderful week!


    X

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  20. Hey there Mark!

    "I love how the setting sun makes even the urban jungle look warm and inviting."

    Yes, it does, doesn't it? And it's funny to be close to the ground (which at this time of the year is dark) and look up to see that beautiful golden light!

    " Hope you didn't lose your keys or debit card down there while crouching down for the shot!"



    HAHHAHAHAHAHA! No, I didn't. Thank god! But I had the camera sitting on the pavement when I took that shot, and was lying down at such a strange angle, I'm surprised I didn't.


    Much thanks for stopping by, bud. Have a spectacular week!


    X to you and Tara!

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  21. I remember well, when I worked in the centre of London and seeing the sun set over those beautiful, old buildings. This post has just taken me back there :)


    Lovely photos, Ron!

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  22. Love the pictures, Ron! You are a master at your craft!

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  23. "...when I worked in the centre of London and seeing the sun set over those beautiful, old buildings."

    Oh Babs, and I bet it was a spectacular view BECAUSE of those beautiful, old buildings! That's what I love about European cities, that stunning historical architecture!

    Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a lovely week! Hope your back is feeling much better.

    X to you and Mo!

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  24. Aw...thank you, Kathy!


    I'm still learning, so I haven't quite "mastered" it yet. But that's the really fun part of learning photography. The 'process.'


    Much thanks for stopping by, girl. Have a FANTABULOUS week!


    X

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  25. Beautiful photographs, Ron! I can feel the warmth of that golden sunlight reflecting between and off the buildings through your photos.

    "Instead of nature, we experience it through an urban jungle."



    I love your way with words. I never really thought of a city as an urban jungle, but you're right, it is.


    How did you take that shot of the leaves? It's so cool!


    And that last shot is hilarious Only YOU!

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  26. Hey ho Robert!

    Thanks, bud :)

    I can't remember where I ever heard the term "urban jungle" but I love it. It was probably something I read about NYC, because that city is LITERALLY an urban jungle of tall and closely fitted buildings.

    I took that photo of the leaves by setting my camera on the ground (at different distances) and just kept snapping the camera. I think I took about 4 shots, but this one I liked best.

    Tee, hee...I added the little guy in the window last minute. I couldn't resist - HA!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a super-duper week!

    X

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  27. *Very* well spoken! As I type this I'm watching a spectacular sunset in the backyard. I guess it's that time of year with the clouds splashing colors across the sky as the sun dips below the horizon. It really is breathtaking. And I really dig your picture of the leaves. That's a fantastic point of view!

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  28. Hey there Herman!

    Thank you :)

    "As I type this I'm watching a spectacular sunset in the backyard. I guess it's that time of year with the clouds splashing colors across the sky as the sun dips below the horizon. It really is breathtaking."

    Ah...that sounds beeeeautiful!

    There is something about sunsets that always moves me - the light, the quiet, the end of a day. I LOVE it!

    Much thanks for stopping by, buddy. Enjoy that sunset!

    Have a super week!

    X to you, Karin, and Mr. Tyler!

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  29. Ron, I forgot to ask you in my first comment what the zoom lens power is on your camera because you seem to get a very sharp close up in your photos.

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  30. Matt, the camera I have now has a 16x optical zoom. The last camera I had had a 3.6x digital zoom. And I have noticed a HUGE difference in the optical versus the digital. The pictures seem to come out crisper and sharper.

    Here is some information I found on the Internet that explains the differences:

    Optical zoom gets up close by using an actual lens adjustment and digital zoom adjusts the image in the camera itself.

    Hope that helps!

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  31. ron, isn't sunrise and sunset thee BEST times of the day. i sooo love the golden light. i actually fear for myself whenever i'm driving and the light is so beautiful. i stare with a heart filled of appreciation of just being able to see how beautiful the world (the earth) can be. then i wonder why more people don't stop to take a look at their surroundings and realize what a gift life and being able to see is...why so much turmoil in the world. we live on beautiful earth and so many people are missing some of the best things in life. i guess i use the time to think about all we have and why we act the way we humans do. enjoy your strolls and keep snapping, love the photos.

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  32. I certainly did enjoy it! Your write up was very good and the pictures proved your point perfectly. Those are some beautiful photos! I got a laugh out of the voyeurism joke. Thanks Ron, another great one!


    http://davidloliver.blogspot.com

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  33. Gorgeous! I so agree with you about the magic of light from sunrises and sunsets. It just seems to make the world glow. When I'm at the beach, I often get up to catch the sunrise because the light breaking over the waves is enchanting.


    I love all the building half-light, half-shadow photos, but I'm especially pulled y the photo of the leaves on the grate. That's a wonderful shot.

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  34. Hey David!


    Thanks, buddy :)


    I couldn't resist adding that little guy in the last photo - HA!


    Much thanks for stopping by. Have a grrrrrrrreat week!


    X

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  35. "It just seems to make the world glow. When I'm at the beach, I often get up to catch the sunrise because the light breaking over the waves is enchanting"


    You're so right....it seems to make world GLOW!


    When I first moved to Florida, I used to go the beach a few times a month, just as the sun was setting. I'd sit in one of the life guard stands while listening to music on my cassette player and watch the sun set; taking it all in.


    Like you said....enchanting!


    Much thanks for stopping by, girl. Have a beautiful week!


    X

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  36. Thanks for explaining, Ron!

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  37. absolutely FABULOUS photos, Ron.

    Like you I am more of a night person and tend to see sunsets more than sunrises. However, I always feel a little sad every time I see the sun set. And I have no idea why!

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  38. Aw...thanks, Meleah!

    "Like you I am more of a night person and tend to see sunsets more than sunrises. However, I always feel a little sad every time I see the sun set. And I have no idea why!

    Ha! You're right....we ARE the same! Libra thing perhaps?

    And it's ironic you mentioned 'sad' because I remember the exact time my father passed away, which was as the sun was setting. He loved the sunsets as well, which I thought was so appropriate that he died during a sunset. So yes, it made me feel a bit sad as well. Sorta bittersweet.

    Much thanks for stopping by, girl! Hope you're having a great week and feeling better.

    (((((((((((( You )))))))))))

    X

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  39. Oh Ron, these are all such cool photos but I love the leaf one most of all. That must have been hard to capture, well done.
    The biggest city I've lived in was Toronto, many years ago. I loved it, for so many reasons. But at times, the skyscrapers did get to be a bit "much" and then it was time to head out to the 'burbs' to enjoy the parks, streams, beaches...all the things that non-city dwellers often forget, are (hopefully) part of living in a city too.
    But as you have captured here so well, there is a beauty in all those buildings too, that changes with the light and the seasons. Well done Ron and thanks for another beautiful glance at your part of the world.
    Do you get much snow there usually?
    Happy week Ron!

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  40. Thank you, Geraldine...:)

    The leaf picture I took by lying my camera on the ground and snapping a few photos from difference angles and distances. I LOVE low angle shots or shots taken from the ground, looking up.

    I've never been to Canada, but I hear Toronto is faaaaaaabulous. I really need to get there one day because anyone who visits Canada always comes back and says how AWESOME it is!

    " But at times, the skyscrapers did get to be a bit "much" and then it was time to head out to the 'burbs' to enjoy the parks, streams, beaches...all the things that non-city dwellers often forget, are (hopefully) part of living in a city too."

    That is so true. Even for me, someone who really loves city life, I need to take treks out to the burbs every so often to get some peace and quiet, and surround myself with nature. Philadelphia has more of a small town feel than say, a place like NYC. So it's not too overwhelming. However...I LOVE NYC!

    No, we don't get much snow here at all anymore. We used to when I was a kid, but with the weather change as it's been, we don't see much snow during the winter. As it's sad because I LOVE snow.

    Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. Happy week to you too!

    X

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  41. Morning light is spectacular! Unfortunately being an early riser is forced behavior for me. But sometimes I'm rewarded by the beauty of a sunrise. These are stunning shots. I think I like the arch of the Kimmel Center the best.

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  42. "Morning light is spectacular! Unfortunately being an early riser is forced behavior for me. But sometimes I'm rewarded by the beauty of a sunrise."

    You are so right, Lisa! Sunrises can be just as spectacular! When I took that 4-day retreat about 6 years ago, my entire time clock was completely different from how it was normally. I actually learned to really appreciate early mornings and sunrises. It was so peaceful!

    "I think I like the arch of the Kimmel Center the best."



    Thank you. That building is beautiful. Inside and out.


    Much thanks for stopping by and reading all my previous posts. You're a sweetheart!


    Have a grrrrrrrrreat week!

    X

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  43. 'I sat in a recliner chair while sipping my morning coffee, watching the sunlight trickle between the bare trees, until it made the whole forest glow with slivers of golden light and shadows. It was truly stunning.'


    Very poetic description, Ron. I can imagine sitting there, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying the quietude. I rarely see sunrise or sunset as they happen... just the effect of them at a later time.


    Love the pictures, especially the one of the fallen leaves.


    Hope your week is going swimmingly xx

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  44. Hellooooooo Valerie!

    " I can imagine sitting there, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying the quietude. I rarely see sunrise or sunset as they happen... just the effect of them at a later time."

    Me as well, which is why having that experience while I was on my 4-day retreat was SUCH a treat! And not only the sunrise, but also the deer who would come out and graze on the trees.

    It was like watching a DISNEY movie about Bambi - HA!

    Much thanks for stopping by, dear lady. Hope you're having a lovely week!

    X

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  45. I bet your view from your apartment is terrific at night when the lights of the city are on! I also love sunsets & sunries. Isn't it amazing how we somehow are able to catch sunrises when on vacation? (I'm very much a night person too!)

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  46. Hey Benze!

    "I bet your view from your apartment is terrific at night when the lights of the city are on!"

    OMG...it ROCKS! Sometimes at night I will turn all the lights out in my apartment and just look over the city lights. It's truly beautiful.

    " Isn't it amazing how we somehow are able to catch sunrises when on vacation?"

    Exactly. And that's really the ONLY time I ever see them - on vacation.

    " (I'm very much a night person too!)"



    I sometimes think I'm vampire because I function so much better after it gets dark- HA! I love the night!


    X

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