I’m not a fan of the return to standard time.  There is something about dark descending before I even get home from work that is exhausting!  It seems that the dark sucks away my energy and motivation…I just want to be home, curled up on the couch or snuggled in my bed.

But…there is an upside to the early arrival of darkness.  Sunsets are readily available…they are happening as I drive home.  I’m noticing the changes in the sky as I drive.  Just last night as I drove to an evening meeting I couldn’t resist pulling off to take a few shots of the city with the sun setting…as viewed through a eucalyptus tree.

Earlier in the week, I stopped by the beach on my way home.  We had rain this week (an event in San Diego) and the skies were cloudy and interesting.  And with a little filter play, the sky lit up (it was beautiful without the filter, but striking this way).  If you look closely, you can see the chopper crossing the bright spot in the sky.

I had seen photos of the Salk campus–of polio vaccination fame– (not far from the writing project office at UCSD) and had always wanted to stop and take some photos.  With white puffy clouds and blustery winds, I stopped to investigate on my way home.  What a reward!  The views are breathtaking…with the sky and ocean framed by dramatic buildings and a long fountain-like structure (that the seagulls were enjoying).  Off in the distance I spied some hang gliders (not visible in this shot).  I’m sure I will go back for some more shots in the future!

And on Halloween last Saturday I spent the day in Catalina (an island off the coast–you can read more about it in this post).  The trip home offered views of the city of Long Beach lighting up as darkness fell.  I’m still working on my nighttime photography, but I love the colors in this shot.

And who can resist this fellow?  Not quite of the sky–but of one who spends a lot of time there. This pelican seemed to enjoy posing on the railing.  I like the way he stretched his pouch in this pose!

So with darkness falling early these days, look to the sky.  What will you notice?  Is the light different?  How does it affect what you notice as you look at the wild blue yonder?

You can post your photo alone or along with some words: commentary, a story, a poem…maybe even a song! I love to study the photographs that others’ take and think about how I can use a technique, an angle, or their inspiration to try something new in my own photography. (I love a great mentor text…or mentor photo, in this case!) I share my photography and writing on social media. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter using @kd0602. If you share your photos and writing on social media too, please let me know so I can follow and see what you are doing. To help our Weekly Photo community find each other, use the hashtag #sky for this week and include @nwpianthology in your post.

I’m looking forward to seeing the sky as you see it…what does your sky have to offer?