At the speed of light, it takes 8 minutes and 19 seconds for light (energy, if you are thinking solar power) to reach the earth from our sun. In photography, the general rule or thumb is to keep the sun at your back and to avoid or minimize taking photos in full sunlight.
But rules are meant to be broken, even if by accident.
Recently, I was on the Bodega Head Trail and a jet contrail caught my attention. I decided to take a quick shot, hoping that the distortion created by shooting into the sun could be minimized by keeping the sun off to the side.
The resulting image? Colored “sunbeams” (distortions or artifacts created by the direct light passing through the elements of the lens) streaking down to earth…
PHOTO SPECIFICATIONS
- Location: Bodega Head
- Camera: Fuji HS20EXR
- F-Stop f/8
- Exposure: 1/800 sec
- ISO–100
- Focal Length: 5 mm
- Time of Day: 3:11 pm
- Post Production: Adjustments in saturation and contrast only. All other “distortions” retained
