The Golden Hour

Leann Shamash

10 minutes ago

2 min read

#chayeysarah #chayeisara #seferbreisheet #thegoldenhour #photography #twilight #dusk #meditation #action

Although this time of year is especially wondrous as the leaves change hues, photographers recognize two times each day that provide us with wonder. The Golden Hour occurs around the time of sunrise and sunset, when everything seems to be illuminated in gold. This is a great time to make beautiful photographs where one can find a glow in every capture.

It is during this Golden Hour that we find Yitzhak in Parshat Chayei Sarah.

וַיֵּצֵ֥א יִצְחָ֛ק לָשׂ֥וּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִפְנ֣וֹת עָ֑רֶב וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּ֥ה גְמַלִּ֖ים בָּאִֽים׃

And Isaac went out walking in the field toward evening and, looking up, he saw camels approaching. Genesis 24:63

and then, amazingly, we read about Rivka as she rides into that same field:

וַתִּשָּׂ֤א רִבְקָה֙ אֶת־עֵינֶ֔יהָ וַתֵּ֖רֶא אֶת־יִצְחָ֑ק וַתִּפֹּ֖ל מֵעַ֥ל הַגָּמָֽל׃

Raising her eyes, Rebekah saw Isaac. She alighted from the camel Genesis 24:64

The text doesn't provide words for the golden hour. It is left to our imaginations to consider how Yitzhak looks as he meditates in the field. It is up to us to picture Rivka as she arrives on camelback and descends from the saddle. It is up to us to imagine this first meeting of Yitzhak and Rivka as they head to Sarah's tent.

One thing that we learn when we take photographs is to take these gentle, yet spectacular images while the light still shines. Soon enough either darkness will fall or the sun will rise and create shadows in images. There is a message not quite hidden in this practice, which can expand from photography to a helpful philosophy. As Yitzhak and Rivka illustrate for us in this simple yet suggestive pasuk, "lift your eyes." Take that photo while the light is golden and take a moment to appreciate what you see. The Golden Hour will not be quite the same tomorrow and it may not be the same even an hour from now.

As it is in the world of photography, it is in life. Lift your eyes and see and then do.

Last night I returned to (almost) the same spot on my porch to photograph The Golden Hour. The photos you see below mark the transition from golden light to darkness.

As that golden hour approaches on Friday and before you light your candles, take a moment this week to view the light and contemplate the story of Yitzhak and Rivka in the field. It is a fitting entrance into Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom,

Leann