/ Projects / Sky Gradients (2015 - 2024)

One of my personal little hobbies has been to take a photo of the clear blue sky and post it to Instagram with no other context or explanation. I find it soothing, but I have fallen out of using it since I no longer use Instagram. So, I decided to instead collect all of the images here! Click on any image to view it in its original size and scale. All images are in the public domain Creative Commons Zero; it’s the sky, I don’t own it!

I also wrote an article in The Atlantic explaining the whole thing with some possible artistic antecedents as well. There also is a zip archive (8.2MB) if you want to use them for your own projects. If you make something cool, please let me know!

2014

Summer Gradient 2014-06-26 Quebec City, QC
Summer Gradient 2014-07-05 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2014-07-26 Rockville, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-08-06 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2014-08-07 Hyannis, MA
Summer Gradient 2014-08-10 Yarmouth, MA
Summer Gradient 2014-08-10 Hyannis, MA
Summer Gradient 2014-08-14 Stellwagen Bank
Summer Gradient 2014-08-19 Hyannis, MA
Summer Gradient 2014-08-26 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2014-08-29 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2014-09-01 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-09-09 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-09-18 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-09-22 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-09-27 Key Biscayne, FL
Autumn Gradient 2014-09-29 Miami, FL
Autumn Gradient 2014-10-04 Silver Spring, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-10-19 Elk Neck State Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-11-10 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-11-21 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-11-30 Sugarloaf Mountain, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-12-10 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2014-12-15 Takoma Park, MD

2015

Winter Gradient 2015-01-10 Chillum, MD
Winter Gradient 2015-01-15 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2015-02-20 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2015-03-15 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2015-04-16 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2015-04-21 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2015-04-29 Manhattan, NY
Spring Gradient 2015-05-14 Washington, DC
Summer Gradient 2015-09-11 Rockville, MD
Autumn Gradient 2015-10-06 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2015-10-11 Wheaton, MD
Autumn Gradient 2015-10-18 Waldorf, MD
Autumn Gradient 2015-10-20 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2015-10-30 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2015-11-04 Shepherd Park, DC
Autumn Gradient 2015-11-24 Takoma Park, MD

2016

Winter Gradient 2016-01-02 Hillandale, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-01-24 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-02-02 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-02-05 Rockville, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-02-14 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-02-16 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-02-28 Wheaton, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-03-01 Rockville, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-03-09 Denver, CO
Winter Gradient 2016-03-11 Denver, CO
Winter Gradient 2016-03-16 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-03-18 Rockville, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-03-24 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-03-26 Lancaster, PA
Spring Gradient 2016-03-29 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-04-02 Governors Run, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-04-03 Governors Run, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-04-05 Rockville, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-04-11 Washington, DC
Spring Gradient 2016-04-12 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-04-16 Ashburn, VA
Spring Gradient 2016-04-24 Silver Spring, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-05-02 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-05-07 Cleveland Park, DC
Spring Gradient 2016-05-15 Wheaton, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-05-20 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-05-24 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-06-01 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-06-06 Farragut Square, DC
Spring Gradient 2016-06-08 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2016-06-17 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2016-06-22 Columbia, MD
Summer Gradient 2016-07-09 Alexandria, VA
Summer Gradient 2016-07-23 National Mall, DC
Summer Gradient 2016-07-29 Fenwick Island, DE
Summer Gradient 2016-08-03 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2016-08-07 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2016-08-10 Ballard, WA
Summer Gradient 2016-08-11 Paradise, WA
Summer Gradient 2016-08-22 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2016-08-27 Swampoodle, DC
Summer Gradient 2016-09-06 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2016-09-12 Wheaton, MD
Autumn Gradient 2016-09-22 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2016-10-09 Silver Spring, MD
Autumn Gradient 2016-10-15 Bethesda, MD
Autumn Gradient 2016-10-28 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2016-11-11 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2016-12-01 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2016-12-12 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-12-22 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2016-12-27 Trumbull, CT

2017

Winter Gradient 2017-01-01 Bennington, VT
Winter Gradient 2017-01-08 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2017-01-30 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2017-02-13 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2017-02-20 McHenry, MD
Winter Gradient 2017-02-23 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2017-03-02 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2017-03-08 Kensington, MD
Spring Gradient 2017-03-23 Takoma Park,MD
Spring Gradient 2017-04-17 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2017-04-18 College Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2017-05-03 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2017-05-09 College Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2017-05-15 Foggy Bottom, DC
Spring Gradient 2017-05-19 Midtown NYC
Spring Gradient 2017-06-01 Silver Spring, MD
Spring Gradient 2017-06-03 Silver Spring, MD
Spring Gradient 2017-06-10 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2017-06-21 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2017-07-02 Brewster, MA
Summer Gradient 2017-07-03 Centerville, MA
Summer Gradient 2017-07-03 Brewster, MA
Summer Gradient 2017-07-05 Somerville, MA
Summer Gradient 2017-07-09 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2017-07-19 Bethesda, MD
Summer Gradient 2017-08-04 Minneapolis, MN
Summer Gradient 2017-08-09 Hampton Beach, NH
Summer Gradient 2017-08-13 Southwest Harbor, ME
Summer Gradient 2017-09-04 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2017-09-08 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2017-09-18 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2017-09-24 Wheaton, MD
Autumn Gradient 2017-09-28 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2017-10-02 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2017-10-19 Foggy Bottom, DC
Autumn Gradient 2017-10-31 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2017-12-31 Miami, FL

2018

Winter Gradient 2018-01-07 Wheaton, MD
Winter Gradient 2018-01-13 National Mall, DC
Winter Gradient 2018-01-26 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2018-02-03 Tenleytown, DC
Winter Gradient 2018-02-13 Bethesda, MD
Winter Gradient 2018-02-27 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2018-03-24 National Mall, DC
Spring Gradient 2018-04-12 Forest Glen, MD
Spring Gradient 2018-04-18 Thomas Circle, DC
Spring Gradient 2018-05-08 Thomas Circle, DC
Summer Gradient 2018-06-24 Berkeley Springs, WV
Summer Gradient 2018-07-06 Montreal, QC
Summer Gradient 2018-07-09 Tenleytown, DC
Summer Gradient 2018-07-28 Adelphi, MD
Summer Gradient 2018-08-09 Stone Harbor, NJ
Summer Gradient 2018-08-22 Highland Park, NJ
Summer Gradient 2018-08-23 Brooklyn, NY
Summer Gradient 2018-08-26 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2018-09-02 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2018-09-26 Thomas Circle, DC
Autumn Gradient 2018-09-30 Rockville, MD
Autumn Gradient 2018-10-19 Thomas Circle, DC
Autumn Gradient 2018-10-23 Bethesda, MD
Autumn Gradient 2018-10-30 Thomas Circle, DC
Autumn Gradient 2018-11-11 Rockville, MD
Winter Gradient 2018-12-18 Thomas Circle, DC
Winter Gradient 2018-12-30 Pittsburgh, PA

2019

Winter Gradient 2019-01-28 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2019-02-24 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2019-03-16 Cleveland Park, DC
Spring Gradient 2019-03-22 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2019-03-26 Thomas Circle, DC
Spring Gradient 2019-04-10 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2019-04-23 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2019-05-15 Ellicott City, MD
Spring Gradient 2019-05-25 Southampton, Bermuda
Spring Gradient 2019-05-31 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2019-06-04 McPherson Square, DC
Spring Gradient 2019-06-13 Seville, ES
Spring Gradient 2019-06-17 Barcelona, ES
Spring Gradient 2019-06-19 Madrid, ES
Summer Gradient 2019-06-21 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2019-06-26 Logan Circle, DC
Summer Gradient 2019-06-30 Laytonsville,MD
Summer Gradient 2019-07-13 Cary, NC
Summer Gradient 2019-07-29 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2019-08-10 Silver Spring, MD
Summer Gradient 2019-08-30 Bethany Beach, DE
Summer Gradient 2019-09-03 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2019-09-20 Metro Center, DC
Autumn Gradient 2019-09-24 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2019-09-27 Brunswick, ME
Autumn Gradient 2019-10-15 College Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2019-11-03 Poolesville, MD

2020

Winter Gradient 2020-01-12 Rockville, MD
Winter Gradient 2020-02-02 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2020-02-09 Takoma Park, MD
Winter Gradient 2020-03-04 Thomas Circle, DC
Spring Gradient 2020-03-26 Hyattsville, MD
Spring Gradient 2020-04-11 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2020-05-04 Takoma Park, MD
Spring Gradient 2020-05-15 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2020-07-02 Bethesda, MD
Winter Gradient 2020-07-08 College Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2020-07-13 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2020-07-18 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2020-07-29 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2020-08-04 South Dennis, MA
Summer Gradient 2020-08-08 Beaver Cove, ME
Summer Gradient 2020-08-18 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2020-09-19 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2020-09-30 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2020-11-02 Silver Spring, MD
Autumn Gradient 2020-11-07 Cleveland Park, DC
Winter Gradient 2020-12-29 Takoma Park, MD

2021

Winter Gradient 2021-01-09 Tenleytown, DC
Spring Gradient 2021-03-20 Shaw, DC
Spring Gradient 2021-05-01 Hyattsville, MD
Spring Gradient 2021-06-18 Asheville, NC
Summer Gradient 2021-06-22 Nashville, TN
Summer Gradient 2021-07-13 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2021-07-30 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2021-08-11 Brewster, MA
Summer Gradient 2021-09-02 Takoma Park, MD
Summer Gradient 2021-09-19 Williamsburg, VA
Autumn Gradient 2021-09-24 Foggy Bottom DC
Autumn Gradient 2021-10-21 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2021-11-19 Metro Center, DC
Autumn Gradient 2021-12-12 Kennedy Center, DC

2022

Winter Gradient 2022-01-14 Treme, LA
Winter Gradient 2022-02-28 Takoma
Summer Gradient 2022-08-19 Takoma
Autumn Gradient 2022-11-10 Bethesda, MD
Autumn Gradient 2022-11-26 Brookline, MA
Autumn Gradient 2022-12-01 Silver Spring, MD
Winter Gradient 2022-12-27 Takoma Park, MD

2023

Summer Gradient 2023-07-05 Dennis, MA
Summer Gradient 2023-08-17 Prague, CZ
Autumn Gradient 2023-10-26 Takoma Park, MD
Autumn Gradient 2023-11-23 Boston, MA
Autumn Gradient 2023-12-15 College Park, MD

2024

Summer Gradient 2024-08-05 Cape May, NJ