Ok - a few notes here: One, I saved for web to shrink the file size. Two, I had to adjust levels slightly so you could see it easier. Now, for WHY I posted this: I live on the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska - in Goldstream Valley, technically. As some of you may have seen on the news, we are currently dealing with being pretty much surrounded by wild fires. The smoke has been so bad lately, I am forced to wear a mask whenever I step outside, or I am gasping for air within minutes. A fine ash is falling. During the day, the light quality is odd, to say the least - it leaves everything bathed in a strange yellow-gold glow. When you drive where there are hilly areas (as in my area), you can literally see layers of the smoke. I intend on taking a picture of this effect later, and hope its still visible (i.e., the smoke hasn't settled all the way down yet). Early yesterday evening, I noticed it had gotten strangely dark---(considering we have about 18 to 20 hours of sunlight this time of year....). I stepped outside, thinking I'd walk into a wall of smoke. Nope - you could smell it, but it was faint. Instead, ash was falling, and the sky was the strangest color Ive seen - it left everything looking like a sepia photo. This is a picture taken from my steps, pointing across the drive to the tree tops, and did it nowhere NEAR justice. The white blotches are the ash falling. Please, keep those of us in the center of this firestorm in your thoughts, as well as the wonderful firefighters and smoke-jumpers who are risking life & limb to keep us as safe as possible. Namaste and Brightest Blessings, ~Meli Edit: I was unable to get the image of the smoke layers, unfortunately the smoke had settled again before I went out and about once more. Last night it was so thick visibility was reduced to under a quarter of a mile. It started raining around midnight... and is coming down now nice and steady. It has increased the smoke somewhat as the fires finally get rained on, but it now smells of wet-smoldering ashy stuff instead of just wood burn smell. For the first time in weeks, i was able to breathe when I woke up. Thank you all for your concern... Our fire crews rock and have managed to keep the numerous small fires that kept creeping up around town from escaping... and keeping people & their items safe.