Preceptions Altered By Light

There are a few clouds in the sky but the sun is nearly unhindered. The tree on the right is being lit by the sun as if by a high side light.  Many of the green brittles on the left side of the tree appear to be white because they are being directly lit by the intense, white light of the sun, diminishing their naturally green color. The parts of the tree trunk that are being lit actually seem to be a light lavender color. The intense white light hitting the brownish gray trunk makes it appear this way. The bottom branch on the left side of the tree is casting a shadow on the tree trunk. That branch too is a very pale lavender color.

The side of the trunk facing me is completely in shadow and unexciting. Although I can see the grooves in the trunk indicating depth, the trunk looks rather flat because it is lacking any strong highlighting contrast.

I feel… small. These trees I am looking at are quite large and the shadows they cast in this angled afternoon sun are even larger than they are. But I feel content about that. I feel very awake, alert, and aware of my surroundings.

Right now, Westhampton Green contains two patchwork pools of dull emerald-colored shadows and bright green-colored, sunlit grass. But a wide pathway of solidly lit grass passes between those two pools, illuminating the brick walkway closer to the right tree. From this distance and with this intensity of sunlight, the brink walkway appears very muddy red, like a lowly saturated maroon color. I am realizing how much intense sunlight combined with distance can really alter how I perceive colors of certain things. I know that the tree trunk isn’t actually lavender and that the bristle on the tree are not actually white as if coated in snow. And yet my eyes perceive something different because of the natural light.