Magic Hour

In our screenwriting class we talked about "the magic hour" as a time of the day that not only screenwriters like to write into their screenplays but that directors and film crews like to film during. The way I understand the magic hour is that it's that time of day, pre-sunset, where the shadows are long and the light is that good vivid, deep kind of light. I found myself outside during the magic hour this afternoon. It's particularly noticeable after several overcast days in a row. It's actually a little warming even on this, one of the most frigid days this year so far. Everything that the sun hits glows pink and orange and everything in the shadows seems a cool blue. It kind of takes your breath away. Well you know. I'm sure you've seen it too. But the magic hour isn't so magic that it can last more than sixty minutes. Nor is it magic enough to come around at a decent hour like, say, even five thirty or six. Nope. It's 4:45 and Chicago is in the dark. And ice is covering the rosebushes out front. :P