Hellooo Photography enthusiast...
One of the best moments as a photography enthusiast is when we have nothing planned—but nature puts on an incredible show. That afternoon, I was standing on my balcony, as usual. But the sky... was different. The colors were slowly flaring up. The camera in my hand immediately went to work.
The afternoon sky presented such a soft gradation. Starting with a tinge of orange on the western horizon, it slowly spread to bright orange, then shifted to a dramatic purplish pink. I didn't want to miss a single second. Every color change, every passing cloud, I captured in the frame of my phone camera.
My balcony isn't a special place. But that afternoon, it became a small stage for nature's grand show. Thin clouds drifted by, blending with the light of the setting sun, creating an extraordinary gradation of colors: from soft orange, to romantic pink, to the grayish purple that signaled the arrival of night.
🧡 Golden hour from the balcony
The first few photos capture the golden hour beginning to appear. The sky looked like it had been painted with a soft brush in pastel peach and orange. The silhouettes of the neighboring rooftops and the dark walls added contrast, making the sky appear brighter and more dramatic. The faint, wispy clouds gave the sky a deep texture.
Time passed. The sky began to change. I shifted position slightly, trying to capture the composition with the tree in the corner of the frame. The colors turned warmer, even a hint of pink. The sky became like a vast, limitless canvas. All within one small window: my balcony.
💜 A touch of dusk
In the next moment, the sky began to take on soft pink and grayish-purple hues. The clouds spread out like cotton, forming beautiful formations. I lowered the exposure slightly to capture the sky's colors better, and the result was exactly what I had hoped for—a visual serenity.
Beneath the beauty of the colors, there was a feeling that was hard to describe. It felt like I was talking to the sky. Silent. Warm. Deep. And the camera became my only way to communicate with that atmosphere.
🌇 Last light before night
I took my last photo as the colors began to fade. The light began to fall, the clouds began to thicken. But the orange remnants on the horizon still lingered. I knew it was time to put away my camera. But before that, I took one more look at the sky that day. Not all sunsets are like this—serene, honest, and colorful.
As a photographer, I believe that we don't have to go far to capture beauty. Sometimes, even our balcony can be the most special spot. The key is sensitivity—seeing, feeling, and pressing the shutter button at the right time.
Equipment:
📱 Camera: Android Smartphone
🕐 Time: Around 6:45 PM – 7:00 PM WIB
📍 Location: Home balcony (Medan, Indonesia)