8 Years Ago

Fascination - What Is This?

After being back from a beach trip for almost two weeks now, I finally have had time to sit down and go through my images! One morning, I was able to get up and watch the sunrise over the beach - something I have never experienced before. I was staying right across the street from a beach access (how convenient, haha!), so while I was biking to the beach, I was hoping and praying for a good sunrise. After being there for a bit, I looked over to the opposite side of the beach and saw these familiar, and gorgeous colors in the sky. I thought it was the perfect time to try out a long exposure. Getting home, and after processing the image, I noticed that there seems to be faint light-rays of some sort in the sky. Being that I am not very scientifically abled, I was hoping one of you could tell me what it is. I took this photo looking away from the sun so I found it interesting that the "light-rays" were showing on this side. Do you see them? Do you have any idea what they are? I can't wait to find out! :)

Just to top it off, as the sun starting to show itself, about 10-12 wild dolphins started dancing and swimming not 50 yards away from me. Turns out, it was one of the most amazing sunrises I have ever witnessed.

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Vanessa Bates

8 Years Ago

Wild guess since it's been a long time since studying and all of this blurs together:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticrepuscular_rays

It depends on whether you think they were running parallel. Sometimes clouds can cause caustic effects that can resemble the above phenomenon as well but isn't quite the same thing.

PS. Gorgeous, btw. Glad you got to see it.

Shelby Young

8 Years Ago

That is very interesting, Vanessa! Thank you!

If anyone else has ideas, please leave them here! I would love to know more.

Gary Fossaceca

8 Years Ago

Beautiful image Shelby! I love beach scenes. I had a similar experience as well. I think it is caused by a cloud (for lack of a better phrase) "fanning" the sun's rays.

Photography By Sai

8 Years Ago

Actually, contrary to popular belief, the anti-crepuscular rays are not caused by the clouds, but more due to shadows of the clouds in the sky on the opposite side, from where these rays emanate. A high density of ice crystals or water droplets, that are bountiful, but not dense enough to form a cloud is what actually causes these rays to appear. It is a fascinating sight to take in as these are especially rare than their counterparts, the crepuscular rays, which are more common. And the "converging" is actually an optical illusion, just like you see the two parallel rails of a train track converge at the horizon. These anti-crepuscular rays are parallel.

Shelby Young

8 Years Ago

Thank you Gary and Photography by Sai! This is still so fascinating to me!!!

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