One beautiful memory when I first realized Blue Hour was with a friend from Amsterdam as we stood on a bridge overlooking a charming canal, at Blue Hour. I had never before experienced the sky at dusk, that BLUE.
That sounds so beautiful. I love lily ponds and I often imagine standing, during blue hour, on the little bridge in Monet's Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies. 💕
love this so much. I wrote a blog post about the color blue a few months ago and your reflections bring me back to my own; thank you for this. I can confirm us photographers love blue hour - for me it's the mood it brings to images. The most magical time of the day
This was so good, Sasha! I tried to leave a comment but don't know if it went through. You are a great photographer and you write from the heart- it's a very potent combination, my friend.
As I am drawn to optimism, Priya, it speaks to me of ‘promise’ and ‘possibility’. I so wish - at times - that I was more of an early bird. I should make a special effort to rouse myself for this blue hour (I’ve been thinking of a long day of cycling so this might be the perfect reason to rise). Thank you 🙏
Hi Barrie, how are you? So good to hear from you. Yes, I see the promise within that time and I can imagine the countryside will add richness to the color. I'm thinking of Van Gogh's paintings The White House at Night ( I think I have the right one) and the one of the house with the terracotta roof, and imaging them dowsed in blue. Thank you!
Your post brought to mind a distinct memory of being consumed by a painting in its various shades of blue.
Years back I was at the L’ Orangerie to see the Monets. I had just come back from a visit to Giverney a few days back and the gardens in their explosive purples, pinks, and blues had taken my breath away. I was kind of anticipating this on seeing his water lilies at the museum.
When I entered the first gallery, there were only two paintings on opposite, pristine white walls. There was a bench in the middle. If I close my eyes, I am sitting on the bench. I am held close in a soothing blanket of blues and purples. The scale of the paintings in their iridescent glow felt like entering a sacred space. I allowed myself the time to let the colors settle over my body, wrap its fingers around me, and to be inside this garden.
The only word that can capture this feeling for me is Sukoon.
I have this little book (you perhaps have read it) by Maggie Nelson - Bluets which explores the color blue through poetry and essays, as a lens to interweave the personal and the philosophical, grief, beauty, desire. Thank you for triggering an unforgettable memory.
Hi Savita, good to hear from you! Sukoon is such a powerful word/feeling. As you wrote, I could imagine myself there. Sacred, peace, art - these are synonyms for me too. Monet came up for me too through the bridge over the pond painting. Blue, and blues and greens. I haven't heard of Bluet but I am going to look for it. I am currently really caught in colors and what they evoke. Pomegranate red/blush is next on my list. Thank you for sharing this beautiful memoryy. One of my gifts to myself is going to be to publish a book with these meditations essays, kind of a feeling dictionary.
I love your description of the blue hour. It hovers between death and renewal.
"It hovers between death and renewal" - Carissa, that is poetry, and exactly the feeling. Thank you!
My favorite time of day, even better if one is in Paris! or Amsterdam works well, too.
Either city sounds amazing but I think I am partial to Amsterdam with the canals adding to that movement throughout the city. Thanks, Jeanine!
One beautiful memory when I first realized Blue Hour was with a friend from Amsterdam as we stood on a bridge overlooking a charming canal, at Blue Hour. I had never before experienced the sky at dusk, that BLUE.
That sounds so beautiful. I love lily ponds and I often imagine standing, during blue hour, on the little bridge in Monet's Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies. 💕
That would certainly be perfection!!
I had never heard of the blue hour before. So thank you for enlightening me, Priya.
The idea of a blue hour reminds me of something mellow and calm, like stillness on a lake. :)
Hi Michael, thank you for sharing that image! Water is part of what came up for me too when I thought of the blue hour!
love this so much. I wrote a blog post about the color blue a few months ago and your reflections bring me back to my own; thank you for this. I can confirm us photographers love blue hour - for me it's the mood it brings to images. The most magical time of the day
Sasha,
I am going to go find your post because I am excited to read your thoughts on the color blue. It evokes so much emotion. Thank you!
https://sashacastawilliams.com/2026/01/02/a-dreamwork-style-analogy-of-color-blue/ ❤️
This was so good, Sasha! I tried to leave a comment but don't know if it went through. You are a great photographer and you write from the heart- it's a very potent combination, my friend.
As I am drawn to optimism, Priya, it speaks to me of ‘promise’ and ‘possibility’. I so wish - at times - that I was more of an early bird. I should make a special effort to rouse myself for this blue hour (I’ve been thinking of a long day of cycling so this might be the perfect reason to rise). Thank you 🙏
Hi Barrie, how are you? So good to hear from you. Yes, I see the promise within that time and I can imagine the countryside will add richness to the color. I'm thinking of Van Gogh's paintings The White House at Night ( I think I have the right one) and the one of the house with the terracotta roof, and imaging them dowsed in blue. Thank you!
Your post brought to mind a distinct memory of being consumed by a painting in its various shades of blue.
Years back I was at the L’ Orangerie to see the Monets. I had just come back from a visit to Giverney a few days back and the gardens in their explosive purples, pinks, and blues had taken my breath away. I was kind of anticipating this on seeing his water lilies at the museum.
When I entered the first gallery, there were only two paintings on opposite, pristine white walls. There was a bench in the middle. If I close my eyes, I am sitting on the bench. I am held close in a soothing blanket of blues and purples. The scale of the paintings in their iridescent glow felt like entering a sacred space. I allowed myself the time to let the colors settle over my body, wrap its fingers around me, and to be inside this garden.
The only word that can capture this feeling for me is Sukoon.
I have this little book (you perhaps have read it) by Maggie Nelson - Bluets which explores the color blue through poetry and essays, as a lens to interweave the personal and the philosophical, grief, beauty, desire. Thank you for triggering an unforgettable memory.
Hi Savita, good to hear from you! Sukoon is such a powerful word/feeling. As you wrote, I could imagine myself there. Sacred, peace, art - these are synonyms for me too. Monet came up for me too through the bridge over the pond painting. Blue, and blues and greens. I haven't heard of Bluet but I am going to look for it. I am currently really caught in colors and what they evoke. Pomegranate red/blush is next on my list. Thank you for sharing this beautiful memoryy. One of my gifts to myself is going to be to publish a book with these meditations essays, kind of a feeling dictionary.
Ooh…pomegranate red, delicious! Can’t wait to read it and your book too. What a beautiful concept❤️