Ways of Capturing Sunlight

Sunlight is necessary for life and is becoming the power source of choice for many. Not only is sunlight useful, but it is also beautiful and can enhance the look of a photograph or painting when done correctly.

Capturing Sunlight For Power

Many homeowners would like to reap the benefits of solar but worry about having their own panels installed. If that is the case, you can make a solar PPA (power purchase agreement). With this plan, you lock in a fixed rate for energy which is typically lower than a normal electric bill. This charge will stay the same for 20 years and you will be helping solar companies expand with your payments.

There are also incentives for those who prefer to own. You will be able to take advantage of many incentives like a tax credit or a community discount. Even if you decide to move, the solar panels will increase the value of your house.

Capturing Sunlight in Childrens' Art

When children create a drawing or painting that involves the outdoors, they depict the sun's rays in the way that makes the most sense to them

Often the sun is a yellow or orange circle in the sky, one that sometimes has a smiling face. The sun's energy is depicted as yellow lines streaming down from the sun to the houses, people and flowers. Since this is a universal motif used by children all over the world, this proves that they instinctively understand what the sun does for the Earth and its inhabitants.

Capturing Sunlight in Paintings

As artists become older and strive for a more realistic look, they might want to capture sunlight as it comes through a window, through tree branches or as it hits the water. Yellow lines won't do anymore, but how does an artist make sunlight look real?

Interestingly, light can't really be painted; it is light's effect on what it hits that best portrays light. Maybe light will still be shown as the color yellow but that depends on what it is hitting. If light is hitting flowers or leaves it might be painted as a yellow glow.

However, light that hits water will be more white than yellow and will most likely be portrayed as specks rather than a pool of a lighter color.

Even those who are great at sketching and mixing colors need help sometimes with more involved techniques. Luckily, there are many online tutorials and websites that talk about these issues.

Capturing Sunlight For Better Health

In recent decades, the sun had been portrayed as dangerous and something to be avoided. In actuality, vitamin D is essential for good health and many people are deficient in this vitamin because of the obsessive use of sunscreen. 

People who know the story of how vitamin D is produced may think twice before slathering on the sunscreen even before going outside. Vitamin D is the only vitamin that humans can make on their own. It is produced in human skin after exposure to UV rays from the sun.

Long exposures to UV rays may damage skin, which can reveal itself as wrinkles, sun spots or even skin cancer. However, try to go outside for about 15 minutes without sunscreen so your skin has a chance to make some vitamin D.

Vitamin D is essential for immunity, it promotes strong bones and lowers the risk of arthritis among other benefits.

The sun and its rays are necessary for life on this planet. Sunlight provides light, warmth and a sense of well-being. Amazingly, even beyond that, sunlight can be harnessed and used for electricity. 

Sunlight can power our homes, make plants grow, provide humans with an important vitamin and promote a feeling of well-being, in real life or when depicted on canvas. Investigate ways in which sunlight can improve your life, either by taking up gardening, painting, healthy living or green energy.