How come we perceive sunlight as essentially being invisible until we split it down into seperate wavelengths?

Question

We don’t see light until it’s reflected off something and depending on what the thing is, it absorbs some wavelengths and not others and that’s how we perceive colours. But why? How come we just don’t see all light all the time (when exposed to it)?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Look at the sun… you’re seeing sunlight.

You can’t see rays from the side because how could you… the photos aren’t heading toward your eyes. They’re heading away from your eyes. What would you be seeing?

You can see them when they hit something because then some of the light bounces in the direction of your eyes.