What I like about ... sunshine

"S" is for sunshine.
Who doesn’t like sunshine? Aside from its obvious importance as energy, light and heat source for all living things on earth, I like sunshine because of the ever changing mood it produces on people and things.

We are of course familiar with SAD or seasonal affective disorder (also known as winter blues) which is usually brought about by decreased sunny days, but of course that is not the reason why I like sunshine.

I like sunshine because of the happy mood it brings to people. Do you still remember John Denver’s song, “Sunshine on My Shoulder”? It goes like this...
“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high....”

Then there is the Beatles’song, “Here Comes the Sun” with the lyrics...
“Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right....”

And of course, one of my favourite songs, “I’ll Catch the Sun” by Rod Mckuen...
“I'll catch the sun and never give it back again.
I'll catch the sun.
And keep it for my own.
And in a world where no one understands,
I'll take my outstretched hand,
And offer it to anyone...”

There are many other sunshine songs, but I think those three will suffice to prove my point. Sunshine does make everyone happy, right?

The other thing I like about sunshine is its effect on things. It can also change the mood of things and I speak especially of the mood in photographs. Since I love taking pictures, I am very much aware of how sunshine changes the mood of scenes and even portraits. For example, the presence of filtered sun rays through the leaves usually gives a dreamy effect to a photo. Or photos with backlit effect can be very dramatic.

I can go on and on about the effect of sunshine on photos but I think I should stop here already.
I just want to reiterate that...
I like sunshine ... isn’t it obvious?