Tuesday, September 26, 2017

The Green Flash



Ho Hum, another Hawaiian Sunset, this time from the porch of the suite our friends Ken and Ronnie were staying in, in Maui.  They insisted we be there before sunset, so we were, and I brought a telephoto lens, and we were not disappointed.  The rays of light above the clouds, that seem to be radiating from the Sun are called "crepuscular rays" and they give a lovely effect during sunset.  But here is the special part.  When you watch a sunset over the water on a clear day, you can look for the "green flash" as the last bit of the Sun disappears below the horizon.  It is an effect that is caused by atmospheric refraction - where the atmosphere acts as a prism and divides the white light into color - and for some reason, green is the color we see as the sun slips below the horizon.  You need binoculars or a telephoto lens, so I was able to capture the effect.  Here is that photograph, below.


5 comments:

  1. Beautiful and amazing!!! I love the sun on the horizon, the peaceful waters and even the detail of the trees in the forefront!! Trace

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  2. Both photos are just stunning! What joy just looking at them. betsey

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  3. nice catch of the elusive green flash and congrats for your anniversary way to go!! laurel

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  4. Stunning photos. Enjoying your travel photos.
    Joan

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  5. Ken, being color blind (pig mentally challenged), I find it difficult to see the colors that you mention. I do appreciate the explanations and the science behind what you do. Your photos do bring me back to a special time in my life when I lived on Mauai. Thank you so much..

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