Some evenings, light doesn’t fade — it transforms. This sunset over a still lake in central Poland unfolded like the sky’s slow exhale. Clouds rolled across the horizon, shifting from deep violet to fiery peach, while the water below mirrored every hue with painterly calm. Along the distant treeline, wind turbines stood in silent silhouette — not imposing, but quietly observant.

This is energy in stillness: the pause between the day’s last breath and night’s soft beginning.

Photographic Approach

To honor the vastness of the sky and its mirrored reflection, I used an 18 mm wide-angle lens to capture the full sweep of the scene. Shooting from a low vantage point near the lake’s edge, I allowed the uninterrupted waterline to stretch calmly into the frame. The turbines on the horizon introduced quiet rhythm — clean geometry set against the clouds’ shifting forms. As always, it was patience that defined the image: I waited for the moment when the fading light would saturate the sky just enough for color to deepen and atmosphere to take over.

Photography Details

• Settings: 18 mm, 1/60 s, f/4.0, ISO 560.
• Photographic Approach: The photograph was captured with clarity and atmosphere in mind. Using an aperture of f/4.0, I embraced a slightly shallower depth of field to let the scene feel more intimate and painterly. A shutter speed of 1/60 second held the moment steady while allowing just enough softness to settle on the lake’s surface. With ISO 560, the camera maintained subtle color transitions in the twilight sky while keeping noise low.
• Post-Processing: In post-production, my goal was to keep the image honest, while drawing out the mood that had held me in place. I gave the clouds a gentle lift in contrast to reveal their layered texture and sense of depth. Magenta and peach tones were enhanced slightly, staying true to memory without tipping into excess. Shadows were cooled to bring dimension to the lower sky and reflection. The turbines, deepened just enough, became subtle silhouettes — quiet sentinels balancing the luminous scene. Every adjustment served a single aim: to let the water become a second sky.
• Composition: This image lives in a kind of loose symmetry — not strict, but breathing. The horizon rests in the lower third, allowing the sky to take visual precedence. The turbines introduce vertical contrast and rhythm, while the mirrored clouds form a gentle “S” curve that guides the viewer’s eye. The overall composition invites stillness, balancing openness with subtle structure.

Final Thoughts

In this moment of quiet, movement lingers — in the shifting light, the layered clouds, the unseen power within the wind turbines. And yet, everything is hushed. No spinning blades, no dramatic swell of sound. Just the land, the water, and the sky — three forces balanced in silence.

This is where I find energy in stillness.
Where do you find yours?