Carl Prothman

Winter light, fleeting magic ✨
Just as the sun dipped behind the ridge, the light did something unexpected. A soft glow pushed through the clouds, and for a brief moment a rare circumzenithal arc, an upside-down smile of pure color, appeared over the snowy peaks.

It didn’t last long. Just enough time to remind me why being patient in the cold is always worth it. These quiet, in-between moments are the ones I remember most. ❄️

Here’s to a day full of unexpected beauty. What’s one thing you’re looking forward to today?

#PNW #LandscapePhotography
#NaturePhotography #ChasingLight
#CircumzenithalArc

Dec 28 at 2:46pmWeb
Show threadCarl ProthmanDec 29
Fun fact: a Circumzenithal Arc isn’t actually rare because it almost never forms, it’s rare because most people aren’t looking straight up when it happens. When it does appear, it’s often brighter than a rainbow and can vanish in minutes.
Show threadTomKrajci 🇺🇦 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️Dec 29

@carlprothman

For the heck of it, I performed an aggressive unsharp mask on your image. It helps show some other features.

Are they real? Maybe. It's tough when the sky background is patterned with cirrus.

Some simulations that show possible features you may find in your original image:

https://www.atoptics.org.uk/halo/common.htm

https://atoptics.co.uk/blog/infrequent-arcs/

Show threadRegine HorteurDec 29
@carlprothman @quephird Well, look at that! A showstopper of a phenomenon and picture.