Moonstruck!

I knew it was going to be great! I was anticipating a lovely picture of the sun setting majestically against the backdrop of cars racing into a blur. Driving home from office, I was already thinking of just stepping in, picking up my camera bag, tripod and making a dash for it. As I arrived at the spot, I looked east and saw one huge cloud hovering over Mt. Hamilton. I hastily took a few pictures and turned my attention westwards. That’s where I thought, almost arrogantly, the action was going to be. My expectations kept rising as the sun kept lowering.

Huge, beautiful clouds, a break just above the mountain-lined horizon and the color started to appear. And just like an eccentric actor who makes an appearance under the lights but on a whim, does not put up an act and deserts the stage leaving the audience confused and confounded, the sun called it a day and left with only a sliver of bright yellow lining on the closest cloud. That was it! Arrogance melted, dissolved in disappointment.

But just as I turned around, dejection instantly turned into elation as if someone had flipped a switch! I saw a huge white blob rising slowly onto the purple tinged canvas. The huge mass of cloud still hanging over Mt. Hamilton looked as if a painter had touched it lightly with a brush that had more color than needed for the canvas. I rushed to capture this treat, relished doing so and left content having witnessed a beautiful end to a beautiful day.

At times, what we seek is indeed what we get but only if we change our perspective!

—————