Komorebi

January 22, 2019

Menashe_sunlight in trees

Photographer: Menashe Davidson 
Summary Authors: Menashe Davidson; Jim Foster

The term crepuscular rays describes beams of sunlight, usually observed at twilight, that stream through gaps in clouds or mountain ridges. Though the rays, and shadowed lanes between the rays, are parallel, they appear to fan out from a point where the Sun is setting or rising. The Japanese term Komorebi also describes this phenomenon but includes scattered light that filters through treetops, as shown above. In English, Komorebi translates to tree-light. It's used to express the strong aesthetic component of the phenomenon, which is especially noticeable when the Sun is low in the sky and mist or dust is present. 

I work in my citrus orchard quite often during the morning hours and will occasionally see Komorebi -- it always gives me a feeling of awe. Photo taken Tira, Israel, on September 21, 2018, approximately 50 minutes after sunrise.