At the southern sea-side in Helsinki, a bit further along the shore from the section Val and I walked (see previous post).
I was wondering: is the spring light brighter up here in the north? I tend to imagine that it is. At least I know that at this time of the year there is more and more light more north you go. In Utsjoki, which is the northernest bit of Finland that you can possibly get to, about 1200 kilometers from Helsinki (map - scroll down the entire length of the country to see Helsinki), the sun rises today at 3.15am and sets at 11.08pm (compare Helsinki: 5.04am and 21.31pm). Come midsummer in Utsjoki, the sun will shine 24 hours a day. Literally. It doesn't set at all. Here it will set for five hours.
I was also thinking about the different kinds of light.
The word for spring light is 'clarity', because of the way it outlines everything with its almost harsh, blaring brightness.
Summer's light is more even with its long, all-encompassing warmth.
Autumn brings a new kind of softness and a hint of weariness to the light.
Winter's light is already exhausted at the moment it rises and from that moment on is merely rushing to get back to sleep. In Utsjoki it doesn't even get out of bed.
Hopefully the sun is shining today wherever everyone is.
3 comments:
It all has to do with the humidity, the air in spring is quite dry compared to later in the summer when the warmer air can absorb more humidity and thus soften the light.
The sun is shining bright here, I believe we are done with our rains now until Fall. And our water is glistening as yours is....
I like the fact that your word for spring light is clarity. In Dutch, they use a word that means clear as well for a bright (as in spring) day.The light is special in spring isn't it?
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