Left or Right?

Left or Right? I’m keenly aware of light and colour temperature when I’m out taking pictures at night. The right of the picture is lit using “Mercury Vapour” lamps which look white in this picture but are really much more blue than white. On the other side of the canal the light is “High Pressure Sodium” which gives the distinct orange light. Both types of lamp are common in street lighting and in this case, both at the same time. If you cover up one half and then the other it can be hard to tell that white isn’t actually in this picture at all, only when compared with each other do the true poor colours stand out well. Over the coming years you will start to notice both these kinds of lights being replaced with LED lights that are significantly cheaper to run and last much longer, but for me, more interestingly, give a much better whiter light. Night photography will change for sure. Which side of the canal would you choose? On the one hand I could walk on the right and enjoy the warmth of the light on the opposite bank. On the other, I could walk on the left in the warm orange glow and not worry about the cold other side. The colour of the light really does make me feel warm and happy, or cold. It can even make me feel uneasy and more cautious rather than relaxed and at ease. Smiles and frowns, shrugs and hugs can all be affected by the colour of light. Which side of the canal seems more inviting? Friendly? Safe? There is something else to see in the picture. Do you see that blob of light in the sky? That's where I'm actually heading on this day. Far in the distance is a well lit building, so well lit that it reflects on the low cloud making that blob in the sky. It is in a square where I am due to have dinner with a friend. THAT is the goal this night, that is where I am heading. The dinner will take priority over the now insignificant choice of which side of the canal to walk to get there. Philippians 3:13 speaks about looking forward to what lies ahead. Pressing on… While left or right are interesting to talk about and we have to choose, the real goal of the night, a meal with a good friend, puts things into better perspective. I don't recall which side I actually walked; probably left - at least that's the side I like the best.