Blue hour: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:JMatern 060320 8433-8436 WC.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Commerzbank Tower]] in Frankfurt, Germany, during the blue hour]] |
[[Image:JMatern 060320 8433-8436 WC.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Commerzbank Tower]] in Frankfurt, Germany, during the blue hour]] |
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[[Image:Colosseum in Rome, Italy - April 2007.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Colosseum]] during the blue hour]] |
[[Image:Colosseum in Rome, Italy - April 2007.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Colosseum]] during the blue hour]] |
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'''The blue hour''' comes from a French expression (''l'heure bleue'') which refers to the hour experienced between the hours of [[daylight]] and [[darkness]]. The time is considered special because of the quality of the light at this time of day (also in [[photography]]; it is considered especially flattering for people with [[blond]] hair) and because in the summer, this is often when the smell of the flowers is at their strongest. |
'''The blue hour''' comes from a French expression (''l'heure bleue'') which refers to the hour experienced between the hours of [[daylight]] and [[darkness]] (i.e., [[twilight]]). The time is considered special because of the quality of the light at this time of day (also in [[photography]]; it is considered especially flattering for people with [[blond]] hair) and because in the summer, this is often when the smell of the flowers is at their strongest. |
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In Scotland this time of day and the attendant light quality is known as [[twilight|gloaming]]. |
In Scotland this time of day and the attendant light quality is known as [[twilight|gloaming]]. |
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Revision as of 20:44, 25 May 2008
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The blue hour comes from a French expression (l'heure bleue) which refers to the hour experienced between the hours of daylight and darkness (i.e., twilight). The time is considered special because of the quality of the light at this time of day (also in photography; it is considered especially flattering for people with blond hair) and because in the summer, this is often when the smell of the flowers is at their strongest.
In Scotland this time of day and the attendant light quality is known as gloaming.
A time of innocence
The phrase is also used to refer to the Paris immediately prior to World War I, which was considered to be a time of relative innocence.
Influence in popular culture
As a result of the perceived specialness of this time, around the world there are restaurants, theatres and hotels called "L'Heure Bleue," and there is a women's perfume by Guerlain (1912) of the same name. The Norwegian rock band Madrugada (Spanish for early morning) were also named after this time.
Songs
The blue hour is also a common theme in popular music and the subject appears in various songs:
- Vanessa Daou - This Blue Hour
- Roy Orbison - When The Blue Hour Comes
- Turin Brakes - Blue Hour
- Stephen Cummings - Blue Hour
- Rod Webber - Blue Hour
- Andreas Vollenweider - Chanson de l'Heure Bleue (Song of the Blue Hour)
- Christian Death - The Blue Hour
- Raise the Dragon - The Blue Hour
- Vika and Linda - The Blue Hour
- Nina Gordon - The Blue Hour
Books
- a novel by T Jefferson Parker
- a book by Carolyn Forché
- the cover background of The Junior Encyclopedia of Canada volume 5
- Midnighters trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
- A novel by Kate Thompson
Films
- a 1991 film by director Marcel Gisler
- the first portion of the 1987 episodic film "4 aventures de Reinette et Mirabelle" by Éric Rohmer.
- a 2007 film starring Alyssa Milano.
Art
- "l'Heure Bleue" is a concept often expressed, in his works and in his thought, by the contemporary artist Jan Fabre. [1]
See also
