The lower the sun is on the horizon, the longer its rays must travel to reach us. Because those rays pass closer to the earth, their strength is further diminished by the denser air. Those factors give us my favorite time of the day in which to capture beauty, the Golden Hour.

You've met Lili before. She was such a pleasure with which to work, she's was so very comfortable with the work AND, as I've gotten to know her better over time, I've grown to appreciate the freedom she carries with her. I knew that I wanted to work with her again and I had the perfect spot for her.

There's a natural place just south of Spokane that I've gone to on dozens of visits. It's quiet and wild and colorful and has a great view of the sun as it sinks in the west.

That sun takes a long time to leave the land before it disappears. The golds get richer by the minute and the oranges go from a faint tangerine to a rich pumpkin color. When that mix of color is applied to already beautiful skin, the results are stunning.

“Once we are aware that our nudity makes us objects of desire, we become naked.”
― Chloe Thurlow

Once the sun sets, the bright colors quickly disappear and the "Blue Hour" begins, called so for obvious reasons. Softer shades, more diffuse light and a palpable drop in temperature. The same scene, the same look a few minutes on either side of this narrow window yield vastly different images. Nature is like that, no?

To steal and morph a phrase from Heraclitus, "No person stands in the same light twice for it's never the same light and it's never the same person." We change and grow and even if we replicate our steps, we tread those steps with more grace and wisdom than before.

Now, I know that the sun and light are only small factors that make an image pretty. It takes pride and boldness, an open mind and not just a little bit of freedom and bravery. I can't create any of those traits when shooting people. That all has to come from within. It takes a special boldness to truly show yourself to the world.

How many of us wear masks so no one really sees us? How differently do we behave when no one is looking?

“It’s the invention of clothes, not nature, that made “private parts” private.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Lili in the Golden Hour