Although the trees and fields may be of the same colour, the trees will always seem darker than the fields, from their quantity of shadow, notwithstanding every blade of grass has its shadow.
The tops of all mountains will be more clearly defined than their bases, becoming more and more so as they rise into the thinner and purer regions of the air; and, as they still rise to their highest summits, the more they develope their form and colours.
All buildings will appear darker at the top than the bottom, from the lower parts being surrounded with thicker air of a lighter colour.
Buildings, or other objects, seen through a fog, only develope those sides which are reflected on by the sun; the other parts remain the colour of the fog. Beautiful combinations of silvery grey and golden reflections, on foliage, windows, boats, water, &c. may be made under these circumstances. As the outline becomes confused or lost, so the objects seen through it acquire magnitude. The fog and the object being both near the eye, its density will occasion the object to appear at a great distance.
Objects of all sorts, seen through rain, have an indistinct and undetermined outline, sometimes becoming greatly confused.
If the observer is placed between the sun and a cloud of dust or smoke, they will appear dark. If they are seen between the sun and the eye, they will be light and transparent. This equally applies to the effects produced by fog.
Some artists represent water very dark or very light. It can neither be darker nor lighter than the surrounding objects which occasion its shadows.
If water is muddy or thick, the shadows of a bridge or boat would be projected on it, as it would be on the ground. But if, on the contrary, the water is clear and transparent, all reflections are formed in it, as they would be in a looking-glass, and no lateral shadows occur.
How much bluer the sea appears from on board ship than it does from the shore; because, at sea, the blue of the waves is reflected on the eye.
All objects in the distance, which are near a river or water, will appear less distinct than those that are remote from it.