The Sky Caught Fire and Forgot the Sea

The Sky Caught Fire and Forgot the Sea is a sunset at full intensity. Above, a dark band of blue-grey cloud; then a blaze of red, orange and gold spreading across the middle of the frame; and below, the sea almost disappears into the glow, as the title so beautifully says. This is one of Tim Burns' Rothko Seascapes, where sun, sea and sky dissolve into soft bands of color. Like a color-field painting, the image is built from stacked horizontal fields with soft, breathing edges. Yet it is pure photography: Tim waits on the coast and trusts the moment, convinced that the first frame is often the best. The emotion here is strong, warm and uplifting, the feeling of standing on the shore as the day ends in flames. Printed behind acrylic glass, the reds and oranges glow from within. It is a vertical statement piece for a living room, dining room or entry, and it brings warmth to any space.