Yes, Blurbarians, there is an upside to enduring winter’s chill. Besides offering a glittering backdrop for all those great winter photos you’re taking, the icy temps also create the perfect conditions for sun dogs.
Also known as parhelia or mock suns, these weather phenomena are made of ice crystals, prosaically called “diamond dust,” drifting at low levels. They’re cagey shape shifters and can look anything like a solar halo to rainbow-hued horizontal streaks to blinding sky spots indistinguishable from the sun itself.
Sun dogs are commonly seen during very cold weather when the sun is low, i.e. early morning. If heading out in search of sun dogs at dawn isn’t your thing, you could always stay up late and photograph star trails. After all, a clear, cold winter’s night also offers up a fantastic show.
As for all you Blurbarians in the southern hemisphere, enjoy the beach and wear your sunscreen. We’ll have some warm weather photography tips coming your way soon.
2 Comments
Hello
Just wanted to let you know that your blog was mentioned as one of the top five in BBC 23 Degrees ‘Buzz of the Week’ blog last week.
http://bbc.in/gpnFtY
Many Thanks and keep the blogs coming!
BBC 23 Degrees
Thanks, Aira! We love it when the Blurb blog gets shared. By the way, fun to explore all the links you included. There’s some crazy weather going on in the world which means all the more photo opportunities for Blurbarians everywhere…
best,
Eileen
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[...] Sundogs are temporary atmospheric phenomena caused by light refracting through ice crystals. They create the illusion of extra planetary bodies in the sky, usually on either side of the sun. Image source [...]