The water was glassy and calm, still candy-colored in the afterglow of sunset.
Stephen King
Although we drive across country each summer to enjoy the beach at Pawleys Island, South Carolina, we’ve also fallen in love with the beauty of the creek at Pawleys. Lying parallel to the ocean, the creek offers a different sight with its interesting docks, slow-moving water, and season-changing marsh grasses. Mornings find us walking the beach to catch just-born light on ocean fingerlings of water. But in the afternoon, we shift gears and head to places west where we can sit beside the marsh and watch layers of sundown unfold in the sky.
The strongest colors arrive in late afternoon just before the sun dips below the horizon — rose, purple, orange, sometimes even deep red at the base. And at that point, many vacationers are tempted to pack up and head back to their cottages by the sea. “Show’s over,” they might say.

But waiting has its reward: afterglow, to us, is the best show of all. A plain blue South Carolina sky (especially when cloudy) can take on delicate colors — pink, peach, even a bit of tangerine — for the best overhead show of all.

And yet there’s more. If you wait for the second act, the afterglow will bathe whatever is below — a dock in the marsh, boats put away until tomorrow’s adventures, a chapel by the sea — in paler, softer candy colors.
It may be, just may be, that God likes to play with color filters, too.

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.
Rabindranath Tagore
Thanks to Leya for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge #98: Delicate Colours, You can delight in more beautiful posts with sweet color on her site, A World in a Grain of Sand.
Geri Lawhon
Such beautiful colors in these photos. Thank you for sharing them for us to see.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks for your comments. It’s fun to see what I can find to meet the photo challenges. Happy New Yesr!
Anonymous
Soooo beautiful and peaceful ! Will always love the beautiful sunsets….
Oh, the Places We See
I get more comments on sunrises and sunsets than anything else. We all must have a universal love of them.
M.B. Henry
Gorgeous!
Oh, the Places We See
Thank you. It’s one of our favorite places to visit!
Valentina
You captured the colors of the sky so beautifully.
Oh, the Places We See
Don’t you think someone could build a bedroom with these colors?
Valentina
Absolutely Rusha, it would be a peaceful heaven.
The Wandering RVer
Stunning images. I can see why you enjoy SC so much. The afterglow is certainly worth the wait.
Oh, the Places We See
We love sunrises and sunsets although we see more of the latter!!! I guess every beach is beautiful. We’re just partial to this one since we’ve been going there for about 35 years!! Thx for the comment.
CompassAndCamera
Wow, these are STUNNING! Thanks for sharing the beauty!
Oh, the Places We See
It was one heck of an evening by the marsh. Wish I were there right now!!
Curt Mekemson
I’d say you captured it beautifully, Rusha! –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks, Curt. I’m glad I follow nice guys like you!
Tina Schell
Ah, and now they know why I love South Carolina Rusha😊. Beautiful!
Oh, the Places We See
We get it. South Carolina is quite beautiful. And the joy of travel brings us to many pretty places. We hope the journey continues at least for several more years. Enjoy the summer!
Tina Schell
Amen!!! Thanks Rusha, you too
Rupali
Beautiful photos.
Oh, the Places We See
Thank you so much. The afternoons are beautiful — well, most days. And because we are rarely there, the sights are quite special to us.
Rupali
🙂
Stay safe.
Grammy Writes
They are all lovely photos, but oh, the clouds in that first one! I just want to touch them!
Oh, the Places We See
We almost stayed in that evening but I got a glimpse of the color from a window. We quickly hopped in the car and drove a short distance over to the marsh to see sundown. So glad we did! Thanks for taking a look and enjoying the view with us.
Amy
Beautiful, delicate colors of the sky!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much, Amy. Your work inspires me!
almeidadepaulo
Wonderful!!!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much. I love the colors. And we just sat quietly watching the show!!
lisaonthebeach
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! 💙💚
Oh, the Places We See
Thank you so much! It’s relatively easy to make a post look good if you include a few sunsets! Wish I could go more often. Really appreciate your comment.
tatjanakphotography
These are beautiful colors. Nature is doing it perfectly.
Oh, the Places We See
You’re so right. I could see a bedroom on those colors. So restful!!!
Sue
Oh, these are beautiful sights!
Oh, the Places We See
Thank you, Sue. And even better in person. Wish we could go more often. But maybe we cherish these sights because they’re rare for us.