117 – Light

Click the video above for 2 minutes of background waves while reading.

I like walking on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

Light is essential for earthly life – specifically light from the sun, which provides the foundation for life on our planet. Light from the sun is the initial energy supplying the vast majority of food chains in nature. But, I’ve already had two walks focusing on the sun, so today I focus on one aspect – light.

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Light: that important requirement for green plants – but what is good light for one is not good for all. Some require full sun – others full shade – others in the wide in-between range.

Light is many things – a noun, an adjective, a verb – including a brightness produced by an illuminant.

Light: a type of electromagnetic radiation being the light we can see – the visible light associated with a name. Surely by now, you remember Roy, the mnemonic device signifying the order of colors – the color extracted from light as it passes through a prism – the same colors we see in a rainbow. For those who don’t know or remember, I introduce you to the distinguished scholar of color, ROY G BIV.

Light: traveling (in a vacuum) at a speed of about 186,000 miles per second – that’s almost 300,000 kilometers/186,400 miles per second. Better yet, that’s seven and a half times around the Earth at the equator in one second. Therefore, light travels a long, long way in one year. So far, the distance is unimaginable. Yes, light travels fast and far.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The light of the sun we associate with terms such as sunlight, beams, daylight, daytime, natural light, brightness, shining, gleaming, brilliance, radiance, glowing, blazing, glaring, dazzling, and more. We can also add moonlight because the moon is not self-illuminating – it is reflecting sunlight.

Light: whose source is not just the sun’s natural light – but any luminant, such as fluorescence, incandescence, phosphorescence, LED, halogen, bulbs, lamps, flashlights, headlights, floodlights, lanterns, house lights, porch lights, street lights, and many other luminaries.

Light: a factor making sight possible. Sight – the sensation arousing visual light receptors on the retina to capture light, and then transform it into nerve messages to be sent to the brain for translation into a visual image. Without light, we see nothing.

Light: the source of color of what we see. Different colors, shades, tones, hues, and complexion – all light reflected to and captured by our eyes for detection that ultimately our brain translates into what we see. Yes, objects reflect light while absorbing the other colors.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Light: the source returning to us showing the object’s luster – its shiny surface providing a sparkle.

Light: something that shines as a beacon or signal – a source of direction as a lighthouse for safety and guidance – as a traffic light for safety and instruction.

Light: a flame to start burning something – to ignite with a possible outcome of fire, a torch, or a simple candle – all blazes of a different magnitude – some decorative, others a source for illumination or warmth – and sometimes a sign of destruction.

Light: as in fire bringing together words and phrases and terms such as ignite, spark, start, set on fire, put a match to, kindle, burn, and torch.

Light: what candles give us as a temporary source while waiting for light’s return.

Light: the flow coming through windows to brighten the inside. Then again, the same light is also the purpose for curtains, shades, and blinds.

Light is what skilled photographers master to use, adjust, and manipulate with their tools to deliver an exquisite photograph- one that brings awe and wonders to the viewer.

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com

Yes – these are the lights we associate with lit, lighting, and lighted – plus many may involve an electrical switch. But light is also a word we use in many other ways – so many, that I will save them for the next walk.

I hope this prose has enlightened your day, There is so much to say about light, so other beach walks are ahead. Meanwhile, I like walking on the beach because it is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

(A note before the closing video: Because I admire the way photographers use light, I invite you to visit the photographers in the links below. They are wonderful artists and I admire their craft.)

See what other bloggers have posted about Light (most are photographers featuring low light)

• The Power of Light (photos by Janet, a visitor and collaborator here)
• Low Light (photos by Tina, a visitor and collaborator here)
• Low Light (Photos by Amy, an occasional visitor here)
• Low Light (photos by Sophia)
• Low Light (photos by Patti)
• Low Light (photos by Judy)

Next Post: Light v2 – Tuesday 1st March @ 1 AM (Eastern US)

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