The world of musicals isn’t typically my forte. I often find it challenging to fully immerse myself in a narrative when characters spontaneously break into song and dance. It’s not a matter of disliking music or dance – it’s simply a personal preference in storytelling. However, there are exceptions, musicals that have genuinely resonated with me. The Sound of Music holds a special place as a family favorite from my childhood, and I fondly remember our school’s enthusiastic production of The Music Man, which brought together students from across all grade levels.
Yet, one musical stands out above all others in my estimation: Fiddler on the Roof. My first encounter with it was in grade school. If I recall correctly, it was towards the end of the school year, and perhaps our music teacher had exhausted his lesson plans, or maybe his patience. In any case, after our spring concert, our music classes were dedicated to watching the 1971 film adaptation of this timeless musical. Almost every song is deeply memorable, and the story itself is a rich tapestry of humor, joy, melancholy, and even tragedy.
Among these memorable melodies, “Sunrise, Sunset” resonates particularly strongly, and it serves as the thematic inspiration for this piece. Composed by Jerry Bock with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, “Sunrise, Sunset” is performed during the wedding of the eldest daughter, who chooses to marry for love rather than the arranged match. Even as a young student, the song conveyed a powerful sense of the bittersweet passage of time. Now, with more years behind me, the song’s meaning is even more profound:
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
Sunrises and sunsets are universally captivating, especially for photographers. They are such popular subjects that they sometimes risk becoming clichés. However, I believe sunset photos, and sunrise photos for that matter, still hold immense value. Every day, the sun graces us with a sunrise and bids us farewell with a sunset – sometimes with extraordinary brilliance – and here in South Dakota, we are often treated to sunsets that are truly breathtaking.
Recently, in mid-February, I found myself trying to capture the last rays of daylight on fresh snow north of Dell Rapids. It was a beautiful sunset, yet the spectacle didn’t end with the sun dipping below the horizon. About fifteen minutes into the blue hour, a delicate fog began to rise from the snow-covered Big Sioux River valley. I pulled over just southeast of Baltic, set up my tripod, and did my best to capture these ethereal scenes.
Throughout this tranquil experience, the familiar chorus of “Sunrise, Sunset” echoed in my mind. In the fading light of day, I was once again reminded of the precious gift of time and the promise of new beginnings, of seasons and years unfolding, filled with both joy and sorrow.
Christian Begeman grew up in Isabel and now calls Sioux Falls home. When he is not working at Midco, he can often be found exploring and photographing the scenic beauty of South Dakota. Follow Begeman’s photographic journey on his blog.
