Finding My Perfect Sunset: A Love Story with Anne et Valentin's Solea
I spend my days chasing light. As a fine art photographer specializing in golden hour portraits, I'm constantly searching for that perfect moment when the sun paints everything in warm oranges and soft pinks. That's probably why I was immediately drawn to the Solea when I visited Shades Optical last week. Sometimes the most meaningful discoveries happen when you least expect them, and finding these frames was no exception.
The Right Moment
It had been a long day of shooting. I'd just finished a sunset session at Belle Isle, capturing a bride and groom in that magical light that Detroit gives us just before dusk. The sky that evening had been particularly spectacular, with clouds catching the light in ways that made my heart race. My camera was full of moments where the sky had transformed from vibrant orange to delicate pink, each frame telling the story of day's graceful surrender to evening.
The couple had been perfect - laughing, dancing, stealing quiet moments as the sun painted them in increasingly warmer hues. By the end of the session, I knew I had captured something special. Those are the moments that remind me why I chose this career, why I spend my days pursuing perfect light.
I hadn't planned to look for new frames that day. My old ones were fine - practical, professional, but ultimately forgettable. The kind of frames that disappear in photos rather than enhance them. They were the type of glasses you wear when you don't want anyone to notice them, which, looking back, seems like such a waste. But as I drove past Shades Optical, something made me stop. Maybe it was the way the evening light was streaming through the windows, or maybe it was just fate.
First Impression
The moment I walked in, I saw them - the Anne et Valentin Sunset Series displayed in the warm afternoon light. The Solea frame seemed to capture every color I'd just spent hours photographing. The gradient moved from vibrant orange to the softest pink, reminiscent of the sky I'd just been working under. It was as if someone had taken a sunset and transformed it into eyewear.
"These are part of Anne et Valentin's Sunset Series," the optician explained, noticing my interest. "Each frame is inspired by different moments of twilight." She went on to tell me about how the French designers had studied the way light transitions during sunset, translating those observations into their designs. As she spoke, I found myself nodding, recognizing the same attention to detail that I pour into my own work.
More Than Just Color
As a photographer, I appreciate technical excellence as much as artistic vision. The Solea frame delivered both. The craftsmanship was evident in every detail - from the perfectly balanced gradient to the way the frame felt substantial without being heavy. The vintage-inspired shape had been modernized just enough to feel current while retaining that timeless quality I love in classic photographs.
What struck me most was how the frame transformed under different lighting conditions. Near the window, the orange tones came alive, bold and confident. In softer interior light, the pink undertones emerged, creating a more subtle effect. It was like wearing a photograph that changed throughout the day, responding to light the way my favorite subjects do.
The optician explained how each frame in the series was handcrafted, with artisans carefully layering the colors to achieve that perfect gradient. It reminded me of the way I layer light in my photographs, building depth and dimension through careful manipulation of natural illumination.
A Perfect Frame
I spent nearly an hour trying different frames from the Sunset Series, but kept coming back to the Solea. Something about its combination of orange and pink spoke to my artist's soul. These weren't just colors picked from a palette - they were chosen by designers who understood light the way I do, who recognized how these particular hues interact and transform each other.
"You know," I told the optician as I made my decision, "I spend so much time trying to capture perfect light in my photographs. It never occurred to me that I could wear it."
She smiled, understanding exactly what I meant. The Solea wasn't just another frame - it was a piece of art that complemented my own artistic vision. The way it drew inspiration from twilight's fleeting beauty resonated with everything I try to capture in my work.
Living with Light
It's been a week since I chose my Solea frames, and they've already become an integral part of my creative process. During photo sessions, clients often comment on how the frames seem to complement the golden hour light we're working in. Several have even asked me to photograph them wearing their own glasses, something they'd previously been hesitant about.
The frames have also changed how I approach my self-portraits. Instead of removing my glasses for photos, I now find myself incorporating them into the composition. The Solea's gradient creates interesting effects in different lights, adding another layer of artistic possibility to my images. In some shots, the frames catch the light in ways that echo the natural phenomena I love to photograph - sun flares, color transitions, the soft diffusion of light through clouds.
A New Perspective
As someone who makes their living capturing beautiful moments, I've learned that the right tool can transform not just how you work, but how you see the world. The Solea frames have become more than just eyewear - they're a constant reminder of why I fell in love with photography in the first place: the endless pursuit of perfect light.
Yesterday, as I was shooting another sunset session, I caught my reflection in my camera's LCD screen. The orange and pink gradient of my frames perfectly matched the sky behind me. In that moment, I realized that Anne et Valentin had achieved something remarkable with the Solea - they'd created eyewear that doesn't just help you see beauty, but becomes part of it.
For other artists, photographers, or anyone who simply appreciates the artistry of light and the beauty of thoughtful design, I cannot recommend the Anne et Valentin Sunset Series enough. Book Your Appointment and Visit Shades Optical to experience these remarkable frames for yourself. Some moments are too beautiful not to wear.