Yesterday, my wife called in a panic telling me there were rainbow clouds and that I needed to shoot them pronto. Being a good husband, I complied.
However, she asked me what this phenomenon was called and I was stumped. Of course, I remember us talking about it here, but without knowing the name, I had a hard time searching...
I saw those yesterday and was wondering what the phonomenom was also. Cloud man (aka: Todd) any idea?
RichieV
Posted by Nate Palmer on November 14, 2008 at 11:52 AM
I thought it was polarized glasses playing tricks on me.... good to hear that others noticed this so I stop thinking I'm crazy.
Posted by Steven Peckham on November 14, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I would say that these would be iridescent, or opalescent clouds.
iridescent: having a play of lustrous rainbow-like colors; "an iridescent oil slick"; "nacreous (or pearlescent) clouds looking like mother-of-pearl"; "a milky opalescent (or opaline) luster"
It is a result of how light is reflected (bounces) through the clouds and to your eye/camera.
That's what I said at first, but these were not exactly rings...Guess it doesn't matter that they appeared in different patches of clouds around the sun, not in any regular geometric pattern.
Different than sun dogs I remember from Alaska, but cool nonetheless...
Posted by Joshua Hardin on November 14, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Posted by Brent Doerzman on November 14, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I think Steve is right, they might be iridescent clouds. Check out this very cool site. Lots of great stuff on here: Atmospheric Optics
Posted by Phillip Noll on November 14, 2008 at 1:41 PM
These don't look like any sun dogs I have ever seen. I would have to agree that they are iridescent clouds.
Posted by Les Barstow on November 14, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Agree with the "iridescent" verdict.
Sun dogs exist at particular locations and arrangements in relation to the Sun, and are part of a complex of Sun-related features. Iridescent clouds don't suffer the same restrictions.
Posted by Stan Rose on November 14, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Correct, they're irridecent (not nacreous, which are high altitiude), some diffraction by the ice crystals. Not sun dogs.
Discussion
11 repliesYesterday, my wife called in a panic telling me there were rainbow clouds and that I needed to shoot them pronto. Being a good husband, I complied.
However, she asked me what this phenomenon was called and I was stumped. Of course, I remember us talking about it here, but without knowing the name, I had a hard time searching...
Here's some other picture links:
http://coyoteimages.com/images/RainbowClouds1.jpg
http://coyoteimages.com/images/RainbowClouds2.jpg
http://coyoteimages.com/images/RainbowClouds3.jpg
I'm sure I'll get a reply from those with better memories than I within a few minutes of posting...
Thanks,
-D
It's a pretty cool effect!
Ken
RichieV
I would say that these would be iridescent, or opalescent clouds.
iridescent: having a play of lustrous rainbow-like colors; "an iridescent oil slick"; "nacreous (or pearlescent) clouds looking like mother-of-pearl"; "a milky opalescent (or opaline) luster"
It is a result of how light is reflected (bounces) through the clouds and to your eye/camera.
S
Different than sun dogs I remember from Alaska, but cool nonetheless...
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=24044&CGISESSID=e659266bbdb9a40920453eed47eacacd&u=8096
Sun dogs exist at particular locations and arrangements in relation to the Sun, and are part of a complex of Sun-related features. Iridescent clouds don't suffer the same restrictions.