h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: A photographers view - Sunsets and why we see the colors - A87856401
Author: bobstafford - U3151547

A brief explanation of the colors seen in the sky please comment

Photo references attached if acceptable,

An interesting idea for an entry, Bob.

Love your pics bob, don't forget chromatic aberration with the purple haze!

Thats more of a lens effect dose it fit in this entry

Hi FWR what do you think is it a lens or a light effect?

It could be included as a careful of a bright light source, and where you point the lens topic.

Sunsets are just that you are pointing a camera at a bright light.
It might be a good idea as the effects are associated.

Whats your view

Hi bob;

Read your Entry, and as one who has photographed sunsets over the years it is very interesting.

Have you ever read about the 'Green Flash'? It is a rare phenomenon that can occur if you have a true horizon, especially at sea. It is an event that sailors who have seen one love to tell stories about.

There are several explanations and even photos on the web. Thought you might find it interesting.



F S

Very glad you have found the entry interesting Green flash got to look that up sounds very rare

love to see that it appears to be a maritime phenomena that would be some photograph

Excellent explanation (short)http://www.livescience.com/26376-green-flash.html

You're right mate. Doesn't fit with the main body.more of a lens effect.

Separate entry then "Lens Effects and their causes" there just be more

Any more observations and ideas

Well, actually, bob, I had rather hoped it would say something about how to photograph sunsets. There seemed to be very little reference to photography.

It describes the various kinds of sunsets - this would apply if you looked at a sunset, not if you were thinking of photographing it.

But I am only an occasional snapper of pictures - my sunsets are usually just a red dot in an uninspiring sky; I probably got the wrong end of the stick here - or most of the entry was over my head.

It was intended as an explanation of why we see the various colours.

However since you mentioned it I will extended it, I guess there must be a need or someone would not have asked.

Hello TC

Added a basic how to section as suggested. Please comment of on is it is detailed enough.

Lovely - thank you very much! I get the relationship to photography much better now. Now I'm starting to think about where the sunset is best seen from. I remember really beautiful sunsets on West coasts (Brittany, Cornwall, the Atlantic coast of France, the West coast of Scotland), where the sun sinks into the sea. And an amazing experience sitting on the top of a mountain from which we could see Mont Blanc, and all the mountains turned pink.

Your welcome your comment improved the entry.

As a thank you here is another tip for you.

Face the sun and hold your hand up in front of your face palm facing you thumb up.

Now align the bottom of your hand so it just touches the horizon.

Look at the sun if your hand hides the sun, the sun is in the sweet spot. The best area for colour and cloud illumination.

If you can still see the sun its a little high for the best effects.

And remember Sunset is a time of day it is not necessary that the sun needs to be the main subject. Tt can also play a fantastic supporting part in your photographs.

Join in here http://www.panoramio.com/

Its a good place to learn and put your photographs and see how others do it.

I put mine here, good and bad for review it helps to see what in people's opinion "is not quite there", and avoid repeats. The site counts the viewings that in turn in the absence of comment indicates popularity/quality.

http://www.panoramio.com/user/2477686?show=all

NB if you put the references in the entry -

eg:http://www.panoramio.com/photo/118494263

they will reveal proposed illustrations for the entry.