1.02.2006

Sundog

As we finished our hike on the 1st, the late afternoon sky offered up a sundog.

Sure, it's just light passing through ice crystals, but I like to think of it as a New Year's Day present... Posted by Picasa

12 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

Never heard of it until now, but how neat. Thanks for the treat.

Ontario Wanderer said...

I am surprised that Anvilcloud had not seen one before.

Great photo!!! Questions:
1. Was it really that intense?
or
2. Is that what the camera captured on its own?
or
3. Did you do some computer software manipulations to darken the sky and saturate the colours?

I've seen many sundogs, and a few moondogs, but none with the intense colours in your photo. It is very impressive!

swamp4me said...

Ow, the sundog was less intense than it appears in the photo, but more intense than what the camera captured on its own. I used the "I'm feeling lucky" button in Picasa to adjust the color. That's about as much tuning as I ever attempt, other than cropping and hitting "sharpen" with alarming regularity!

Mr. Bloggerific Himself said...

I keep forgetting to post about our NYE's Good Omen. You should have been here on NYE Swampy! I would have shared some lovely snacks (except maybe the Oreos, sorry) AND you could have taught us all about our omen.

We stepped out in the front yard at a few minutes till and at that exact moment all three of us saw this HUGE white bird fly up to the top of a pine tree (or some Christmas tree looking tree, sorry I don't know what kind). It was amazing! We were all like, WHOA!

I ran in to get a spotlight but he/she/it flew away. :(

Pushesrb said...

love the picture!

R.Powers said...

Wow! I've seen 'em, but never captured one. That's a beaut!

R.Powers said...

And I have to share this...At this time of year the big aquarium in my "office" acts like a prism and shoots a brilliant rainbow to the back of the room. The morning kids get a big kick out of holding the rainbow in their hands. Talk about your teachable moments.

swamp4me said...

Mr. B, I wish I had been there to see your white bird! Do you think it could have been a barn owl or, dare I even suggest it, a snowy owl??

Pushesrb, glad you like. Did you make a decision about your new car?

FC, those teachable moments were the ones I lived for (just ask Pushesrb - she was one of "my kids").

Mr. Bloggerific Himself said...

Sorry I can't give you more detail. :( It was a full yard away, and up one tree. I'm afraid my night eyes aren't good enough for that distance.

Anonymous said...

Before moving up here we had always looked at sundogs as harbingers of colder weather. But here (when the sun returns) they are almost a daily event in late February and March. Frequently the entire circle of the parhelia can be seen, and on occasion double sun dogs appear.

swamp4me said...

Clare, on very rare occassions we get to see the full circle.
When I was young my grandmother told me that a circle around the moon was an indication of coming snow...

Lené Gary said...

I've only seen one sundog, which I couldn't remember very well. So cool that you got a picture of it. :) Happy New Year.