Reading Places at Sunset: The Art of Ending the Day

A Farewell, A Thousand Beginnings

Dear Travel Journal,

I love how our plans to have dinner at our favorite restaurant or grab a drink at a neighborhood cafe have slowly been joined by plans to go for a run at sunset. Catching the sun's final moments as it spends all day in the sky only to say goodbye in a few minutes is the most impressive and magnificent way to realize that another day has ended.

I love seeing the incredibly different sunsets in different parts of the world. I was so surprised when a friend from Brazil told me that on the beach at sunset, they send off the sun with applause, saying "see you tomorrow." This is one of the reasons I love to travel: to see different perspectives.

In this piece, I will share my personal experiences with some of the sunsets I've had the chance to witness, and talk about the scientific and cultural richness of this universal event.

Sunsets Are Universal, Never Identical

It's possible to see sunsets everywhere in the world. The actual definition of a sunset is when the Sun disappears from our view due to the Earth's rotation on its axis.

Due to the scattering of light in the atmosphere (atmospheric refraction), the Sun actually appears to set a few minutes after it has dipped below the horizon.

The reason for the orange, red, and pink colors is Rayleigh scattering: Gas molecules and particles in the atmosphere scatter short-wavelength light (blue, violet) more, leaving the long-wavelength light (red, orange) behind. The colors are heavily influenced by the air's cleanliness, humidity, and the amount of dust and pollution. For example, after volcanic eruptions, sunsets can turn an extraordinarily vibrant red. Even two people standing in the same spot can see a different shade. That’s why every sunset is unique.

Sunsets and Life's Coincidences

Everything that happens during a sunset is far beyond the ordinary. The sun is the same sun, moving at the same speed, but the majesty of its farewell leaves a different impression on everyone. That's always been the case for me. I have watched breathtaking sunsets in different parts of the world.

Near the equator, sunsets happen very quickly, with the sky darkening in just a few minutes. In polar regions, however, sunsets can last for hours during the summer, and the sun may not set at all due to the "midnight sun." An open horizon at the seaside, a lake, or on a high hill always offers the best view.

Why does an ordinary day feel extraordinary when it ends with a sunset?

Is it the colors?

The timing?

The ritual of stopping to watch?

No matter how long the sunset lasts, there are always meaningful moments that happen during it:

A conversation that shifted your perspective.

A goodbye that felt softer under the orange light.

An arrival that was perfectly timed.

You may remember the article I wrote before about the Golden Hour. In photography, the moment before and during sunset provides the softest and warmest light. This inspiring time of day has deeply influenced not only the art of photography but also literature and painting.

The meaning becomes even deeper if you are in a transitional period of your life, traveling, and witnessing the sunset from a different place and perspective.

I recently had the chance to capture these moments of sunset on the Aegean coast of Turkey, moments that made me deeply realize that time is passing and nothing stays the same. One day, as I rushed to the beach to catch the sunset, I even forgot my house keys. Strangely, for perhaps the first time in my life, I didn't blame myself for the mistake.

I simply reminded myself that I was an adult and could solve the problem, then I went on to enjoy the sunset I had run out of the house to catch. I am sure that if this had happened years ago, I would never have forgiven myself and would have been furious. People often say that they never change, but my reaction to this event surprised and delighted even me.

The Worldwide Sunset Collection

The sunsets I watched this September not only made me aware of life's transience but also reminded me that my life might not be long enough to see all the sunsets from every corner of the world. This made me think we could create a Sunset Collection together, one that we can all contribute to and see sunsets from different perspectives around the globe.

The process is quite simple: Share the sunset you've captured on your Instagram Story, tagging your location and @vaginismusmagazine, and you'll be featured in our Sunset Collection highlights. This is a way to make your aesthetic vision visible. I am genuinely curious to see your sunsets.

There are no time or location limits—just share any sunset, from anywhere.

Additionally, if you can add a sentence or two about how the sunset made you feel, we can reinforce the importance of expressing emotions that VAGMAG embraces. The effect could be as gentle and profound as the sun's rays slowly moving across our skin.

Reflections: Why It Matters

If the golden hour teaches me to see slowly, the sunset reminds me to hold lightly. The day ends whether I'm ready or not—but it leaves something behind if I’m paying attention.

Sunsets remind us of endings as much as they do of beginnings. Every ending is, in fact, a new beginning. September, in a sense, is an anniversary for our lives. Summer loves end, schools start, and we return to our work lives during this time.

I look forward to seeing you in my next article about sunrises.

With care,

Idalia