I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

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I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

by SeasideMan ^Pro @ 09/04/08 – 08:51:15

We often get stunning sunsets here on the West Coast, with an orangey-red sun dipping down into the sea. For the last few weeks it has been different. About an hour before sunset, the sky will be completely clear and then a cloud will appear and grow and grow, and then the sun will disappear behind it just at the perfect time for photography. It feels like a conspiracy.

That’s what happened last night. I was all set to take what looked like they could have been nice pictures but clouds got in my way. As Joni Mitchell put it:

“But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
Its cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all “

Here is a lovely live recording of it from 1970:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcrEqIpi6sg

The above picture shows the effect I’m referring to, combined with a bit of self portrait. What you can see is the reflection from the doors onto our balcony. The picture gets bigger if you click on it.

Cheers, Tom.
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12 Comments on I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

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- la_spice
- 09/04/08 @ 09:08:47
I was going to say that it looks like more than clouds got in your way!

I love sunsets but only manage to see sunrises from my house!
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 09/04/08 @ 09:29:26
  I think you are right :-)
  
  We are seriously spoiled for sunsets here, but I don't think I'll ever get fed up of them. It would be nice to take a picture from the same spot a few minutes before sunset every day for a whole year, and then look at them in sequence. I must start that soon.
  
  Cheers, Tom.
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- jenray ^Pro
- http://www.jenniferhunter.co.uk
- 09/04/08 @ 10:40:02
You won't believe this, Tom...Ray and I were walking down the road yesterday talking about life and we quoted this same Joni Mitchell song except you got the first verse and we quoted the last...I cannot believe this, it blew my mind...I haven't thought of this song for so many years I can't count...she was actually our son Matthew's, who died, favourite singer...always asked to hear her whenever we asked him what record he'd like us to play....great big hugs to you...
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 09/04/08 @ 11:26:24
  Life is full of strange coincidences and this is another one. It doesn't surprise me at all that your sadly deceased son would choose Joni as his favourite singer. She has an incredible voice and writes beautiful songs, and has been doing so for 40 years now.
  
  Cheers, Tom.
  - - jenray ^Pro
    - http://www.jenniferhunter.co.uk
    - 09/04/08 @ 12:13:40
    Well we thought at eight that was a pretty mature choice for him, but then he did pack a lot into his short life and was far older than his years in so many ways...great big hugs...
    - - SeasideMan ^Pro
      - 09/04/08 @ 14:16:11
      That's a very surprising and mature choice for an 8-year-old. But I do understand it - there is a quality to Joni's singing that seems to speak on a subconscious level. I think that even if you didn't understand her words, it would still be possible to understand what she was singing about.
      
      Tom.
      - jenray ^Pro
        
        http://www.jenniferhunter.co.uk
        
        09/04/08 @ 15:57:58
        
        Yes, but he also understood a great deal more than an ordinary eight year old...not because he was our child, but even the teachers were amazed by him sometimes...one of his teachers came over to me one day and said I've got to tell you this...I set him some work and he went off and did it, and then came up to me and put his hand on my shoulder and held it up in front of me and said...'Now, is this all right for you?'....she said she nearly fell off her chair with amusement...no child had ever done that before and she'd been teaching for years...he also turned round on his second Sunday after he made his first Holy Communion, put his hands out and when the priest went to put the host in his hand, he looked up at him, and said..'No, thank you'. Put his hands down and walked back to his seat..!! Nearly made me fall over with shock to say the least...no longer believe in God, but at the time I did...HLOL...that was a first ever...the priest nearly fell off the altar...big hugs...
        
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        SeasideMan ^Pro
        
        09/04/08 @ 16:21:49
        
        he certainly sounds like he was a special child. Thanks for sharing that with me.
        
        Tom.
        
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- deleted user (Visitor)
- 09/04/08 @ 20:26:40
Love this song and your photos - thanks for the reminder.

I've been tagged from jenray and thought i'd tag you as yours is one of the blogs I like to visit. I hope you don't mind. If so just ignore not sure about tagging etiquette.
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 09/04/08 @ 20:42:37
  Hi Eddie. I don't even know what tagging is, so feel free to do whatever you like!
  
  Cheers, Tom.
  - - deleted user (Visitor)
    - 11/04/08 @ 13:36:41
    Lol @ "so feel free to do whatever you like".
    
    I admire your coolness, whereas i got all excited by being tagged - somewhat foolishly. However maybe it's best not to know about these things as it was very hard to complete the exercise.
    - - SeasideMan ^Pro
      - 11/04/08 @ 14:12:53
      Haha. I spent many years in the computer industry coping with nightmarishly complicated systems, and not surprisingly I now get irritated when things are difficult to do. especially things that should be easy.
      
      Tom.
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I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

12 Comments on I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

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