Happy Solstice

Snow on driveway, 2018

It's the shortest day of the year, least sunlight, longest night. Sunset here has been getting later since the 16th. On January 8th, sunrise times will start to get earlier, and by that time, sunset will already be 17 minutes later than it was at its earliest on Dec. 3–15.

The daytimes get longer from now until the Summer Solstice on June 21st. More light for photographers; more light for our eyes and brains and bodies. If you get depressed in the wintertime, try a light bank. Try to get up at or before dawn and sit by your light bank for two hours or so to start the day. It helps with seasonal depression. I go outside first thing every day and, if the sky is blue, I look at it for a while. Blue light is a good way to start the day. My late dear brother Scott worked as an intern and assistant for Norman E. Rosenthal at the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) for a year. Dr. Rosenthal first described seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and developed light therapy as a means of alleviating the Winter Blues. Scott used to describe to me the extreme cases who were in inpatient care at NIMH and boy, can SAD ever get extreme. He described one guy who got manic in the summertime, sleeping only a few hours a day, but in the wintertime had to have his bed right next to the bathroom door, because otherwise a trip to the bathroom would seem so overwhelming that he'd helplessly pee the bed. We all suffer a little from the winter blues, part of our natural adaptation to the planet, but there are degrees of it. Don't let yourself get too down.

It gets better from here on out!

Mike

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Comments

[Charlie Dunton]

Many years ago when I was still involved in bicycle racing, I would commute to work each day by bike as part of my training regimen. I was excited when December 21st rolled around because now the days would get longer and I would have more light for my morning ride. Or so I thought. I soon discovered that although the day was getting longer, it was all on the back end. Sunrise continued to come later until the middle of January. Boy, was I disappointed.

[John Bennett]

I suffer from reverse SAD. Summers, even here in Portland, Oregon, are getting hotter and brighter. Smokier, too.

By August, I long for short, cool days with overcast skies. Better for my brain. Better for my black & white film photography.

[Rob L]

Thank you for being a light, Mike. Your writing on photography, on the community of folks who care about it, the stories about pool - which I don't play, but 's fun to listen to someone talk about what they love- and sharing stories of your son.

This place is a truly wonderful example of what the web can and should be. Happy yule and good light!

[Herman Krieger]

Looking at the Microsoft Windows blue usually wakes me up.

[Moose]

This is one of my favorites of the photos you have posted. I confess to grabbing it, probably uprezzing, and printing a small copy (4x6?).

It's in a little frame, somewhere around here, although I can't say where at the moment. Possibly too many framed photos and art around here; all over the walls and drifts on the floor, in closets, etc.

Of course, I live where it doesn't snow, or freeze, so perhaps it was vicarious?

BTW, I tried removing the color, and to me, that takes the magic out. All the subtle textures are still there, but it no longer speaks to me. ". . . if the sky is blue, I look at it for a while. Blue light is a good way to start the day."

[John Camp]

Ha. You and I are the founders a hot new art form (I'll figure out a manifesto some other time) called "Realistic Minimalism." I took a brilliant Realistic Minimal photo in Jacksonville, Fl., a few years back, and I keep it as a serious part of my personal portfolio. I would send it to you, but I don't know how to do that. When I get back home (I'm traveling) and if I remember (I'm old) I'll email it to you, and we can start figuring out how to monetize this unprecedented, phenomenal new art wave. Gonna get in early and get rich, m'boy.

[Tex Andrews]

What a great photograph!

[Charles Sumner]

G'day~
A thank you this christmas eve, been dealing with SAD all month! Ghosts of christmas past. This piece has shown me my position in the universe.
I hope your holiday is excellent.

[Thomas Paris]

I lived for 4 years in Finland. In the South of Finland, where they do get day and night every day. But the days are very short in the winter and very long in the summer. It wasn't too difficult for me, so I'm pretty sure I'm safe. But some of my Finnish friends had it hard.

All the best to everyone in this festive season! And if it'd hard for you, don't forget you'll get to party pretty soon, in the summer. That's only a couple of months away.