Weather Anomaly

A Lesson in Learning and Humility

“Anomaly”

This image is one of my personal favorites although I’ve received some interesting feedback on it. Some people love it as well and others have remarked that it's been overedited causing abnormal banding.

It first started not long after printing this image for the first time as a 20”x30” piece of artwork. When on display, another, well-established, photographer came by and remarked that it was nice, but is way overedited causing an abnormal banding. I didn’t get mad or offended, I used this situation as an opportunity to teach someone what I learned. I politely smiled and shared that the effect seen here in the light was actually a rare phenomenon.

When I was in the field witnessing this phenomenon, I was captivated and wrought with disbelief and amazement. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. When I returned home with these beautiful images, I had to do some research into what I had witnessed. I thought I would share this with you all here.

This image is appropriately named “Anomaly” because of its peculiarity or abnormality. It showcases a rare phenomenon known as iridescence where sunlight bends and spreads as it passes through tiny particles of ice crystals or water droplets often appearing as pastel, shimmering colors. This is most often seen in situations we call rainbow clouds, fogbows, or sundogs. It is particularly rare to see this occurrence so close to the ground. The conditions had to be just right.

This image was made one early morning as the sun was coming up. There was a dusting of snow and frost that clung to everything that was being revealed as a thread of fog was lifting. This tree was originally in the shadow of the hillside creating the dark, shadowy hues. The sun started peeking through a valley, spotlighting this cottonwood through the fog, and diffracting and refracting the morning light.

It was such a special and special morning! Witnessing beauty such as this is one of the things that keeps me doing what I do.