Charlie Remembers a cold, cold morning and the sunset that came with it

I have been perusing through my archives, both photo and email, trying to pick out a subject for this week’s Photo of the Week article.  Come across an email title, “Not Your Classic Sunset”, sent back in January 6, 2015.  Open the file and instantly remember this sunset!

STORY BEHIND PHOTO OF THE WEEK:  (copied and pasted from my January 6, 2015 email)

Hi Everyone:

Home working on some photo albums on the computer and notice that it was close to sunset! Scamper outside, don’t even clean the snow and ice off the car and head over to check the sunset out looking over the sod and farm fields by my house. 

Stop by the farm lane and see the reddish setting sun just beginning to disappear behind the distant ridge which is enveloped with a dark cloud AND there is a small stream of light, like a laser beam shooting straight up from the sun! Try to lower my passenger door window for my photo and that is frozen shut! OK, so I jump out of the car take a couple of photos and that is that!

Get home and down load a couple of days of photos onto my computer and then notice the sunset shots! This is really kind of different. Maybe it is my imagination, but looking at the close up photos, a sunset was furthest from my mind. I’m thinking volcanic eruption or looking at a distant forest fire!

AND NO, I have not been drinking!

I’ll let you come to your own conclusions.

Enjoy Your Open Space + Stay warm, it was 19 degrees according to my car!!

Charlie Fineran

Director Open Space

Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman    

Allamuchy Historical Society – President

OBSERVATIONS

FIRST – The above Photos and article, pretty much explain and take care of the original title, Not Your Classic Sunset.  After doing a little research on line, I added Crepuscular Rays to the above title with the game plan to tell you about these rays.

             QUESTION – What are Crepuscular Rays??? 

             ANSWER –  They are shades of sunlight from below the horizon shining through openings and edges of clouds into the evening sky during sunset.  It primarily occurs when sunlight travels through broken clouds but also happens when the light travels through  other objects under the right conditions.

             Interesting link – sunsets with ray of light into sky – Search (bing.com)

Please visit my Flickr Collection of Sunrise & Sunset Albums – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/collections/72157648226559745/

SECOND – Would like to take the opportunity to inform you that the above photos were taken off Youngs Island Road, Allamuchy, NJ.  This is a great location for sunset photos especially during the late Fall, Winter and early Spring seasons.  The position of the sun in the above photos is only two weeks from its position on the horizon for the Winter Equinox Dec. 21^st (First Day of Winter)  HINT:  Come on out and enjoy some beautiful sunsets!!  KEEP IN MIND – December 21^st come out and see the lowest position of the sun on the horizon, from that day on the sun moves to the right until June 21^st when sunset is behind the trees looking straight down Youngs Island Road!!  NOTE:  This area is a great place for birding and to view wildlife from the comfort of your car!!

Enjoy Your Open Space  

Charlie Fineran

Director Open Space   

Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman   

Allamuchy Historical Society – President