Radiance
The pattern appears because small branches or needles that lie by chance along the curve of lines concentric to the sun are especially illuminated. Is this a perceptive bias or is there an explanation of this from the physics of light? Why light about the circumference of the sun and not along its radians? Anyone?
In this certain kind of light you will see a pattern also in the spring after sap rises and growth begins. In that first warm light you can see the phototaxic turning toward the sun of myriad growing tips, giving the view a lilting, lifting quality not present in dormant winter twigs and branches.
Comments
That sparked a couple of things in my memory, Fred: a similar photo taken by one of my sons, and a book that has sat unopened on the shelf many many a year, called "The nature of light and color in the open air". Though I can confirm that the phenomenon exists, I can't tell you why - I'll keep browsing the aforementioned book and if I discover anything I'll let you know!
Oh, btw, I published my lad's photo here http://olderandgrowing.blogspot.com/2004/12/web-of-twigs.html - not in competition with yours, just to prove it's not only you that sees the pattern!
Posted by: andy | December 19, 2004 9:34 AM
I am so glad you posted that picture and told what it was. I have seen the same thing here in Florida on one of my walks and just stood there and stared at it because it looked one way from afar and when I got up to it, I could tell why.
I do enjoy reading your blog every day. And love the pictures. I love Tungsa pictures and stories.
Posted by: sandy | December 19, 2004 10:47 AM
A Wonderful photo! I've often observed this effect in the piney woods too...it's very dreamlike... almost as if one is looking up from under the surface of a clear pool of water.
One suspects magical illusions of light such as this were the origin of the Faerie's aura.
Posted by: Feste | December 19, 2004 3:11 PM
I am eagerly awaiting enlightenment on this issue from you or one of your readers, Fred.
A friend of mine who teaches creative writing at Penn State recently told me that in five years of teaching, the most promising young poet in any of his classes was an engineering major. Science majors also frequently displayed an aptitude for the craft, he said - something about the precision of thinking required for either discipline, we speculated. This blog is living proof that poetry and science are rarely as far apart as the popular imagination would suggest...
Posted by: Dave | December 19, 2004 3:23 PM
I was just noticing these circles the other day... seems to stand out here in Vancouver especially on those 330 nights a year when the trees are wet and backlit by streetlights... my guess is that the light reflects better against the branch-curves that perfectly circle the lamp (or sun), leaving everything else---at least to our eyes---as the proverbial "dark side of the moon." P.S., Dad, think you could pick me up at the airport tomorrow...?
Posted by: nate | December 19, 2004 7:49 PM
I thought this was very cool. I've never noticed it before. It reminded me that I need to slow down and look at the world more closely.
Posted by: Trey | December 20, 2004 8:20 PM