Thursday, June 19, 2008

Glitter Patch

Sky Watch Friday

I would watch the Sky,
If I were you,
Watch the water too,

Especially if it’s the Pacific,
You'll find a view that's terrific.
(Sorry for the bad verse)


Glitter patch
(Click on the photo for a better view)



Looking towards the Sun’s (or Moon’s) reflection across a broad stretch of wind-ruffled water, we see a brilliant elongated path of sparkling light called “glitter”. Glitter is the ensemble of countless sun glints. Each glint is an instantaneous flash of sunlight reflected from a wave with just the right slope and position to send light our way.

As the Sun begins to set, and the altitude is less than the maximum wave tilt, the wave shadows itself and decreases in brightness. When the Sun is almost on the horizon, only the tops of the very highest waves are illuminated and the glitter virtually ceases to exist.

Several factors can distort glitter, such as a gust of wind causing a sideways bulge in the glitter.

While the Sun’s glitter us usually too bright for enjoyment, the Moon’s glitter is just right. Here the glitter is composed of rapidly moving points of light that scurry around the surface in closed loops called moon circles, and are most prominent when the Moon is high and the water only gently rippled. A camera is the best way to capture these as they come and go about as fast as the eye can respond.

To participate in Sky Watch Friday visit Wiggers World.

Troy and Martha

78 comments:

Anonymous said...

fantastic scene. great colors and light. well done

Anonymous said...

This is a very fantastic view. With such colours I just wonder if it's best to sky watch or sea bath?

kjpweb said...

Well the verse ain't a revelation, the image is though! Gorgeous with those rays!
Cheers, Klaus

Daryl said...

As always a breathtaking panarama.... and today my photo at Picture This is 'specially for you and Martha


:-Daryl

Tom said...

Beautiful picture... Thank you for being a part of Sky Watch this week, I hope you have fun taking part.

Tom ;O)

Anonymous said...

so beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Hi Troy,

I like the way you handled the brightness of the sun, knowing your lens well enough to capture a few of those rays and doing an excellent job on the reflective highlights--a very nice photograph.

Jim

Anne said...

Just a perfect view !!

Nice weekend to you both from Anne in Norway.

mrsnesbitt said...

Such a wonderful view. The skies here have been rather dull lately...let's hope for an improvement for our vacation!

EG CameraGirl said...

The blues are incredible!

Juliana RW said...

wow...this is SO beautiful

Please visit mine also in here Thanks

Angie said...

A really beautiful photo,I'll forgive you for the verse, lol

Pappy said...

Great photo. Me likey.

Max-e said...

This is a great photo - it has sparkle.

Carletta said...

Gorgeous, just gorgeous!

bobbie said...

This is very lovely, with the sheen on the water. And there is nothing I love more than Queen Ann's lace.

Michele said...

Absolutely stunning... I very much enjoyed the view from where I was sitting!

John B. said...

Lovely photos!

Anonymous said...

A lovely vista! I especially love this effect on a certain lake in Maine!

Anonymous said...

great picture.

naturglede/Randi Lind said...

Beautyful again!!!

***Fotografia e Luz*** said...

photo with a fantastic tone of colours

Petunia said...

The verse was fun:) And your shot is very nice:)


Petunia's SWF post

Fugazi said...

Very well done... nice to get the sunrays like that..great scene:))

Voz do meu Coração said...

Simply wonderful this picture, with a charming scenery and excellent color, congratulations.

SandyCarlson said...

Teriffic indeed!

imac said...

Now this is such a beauty of a photo.love it.

pop and see mine from the back garden.

TR Ryan said...

Beautiful photo, I love the glitter patch. Great sky watch.

Craver Vii said...

Normally, I can't stand glitter. It sticks to your skin and is virtually impossible to vacuum up off the carpet... but this stuff here is just fine! Love it!

Pat - Arkansas said...

I'm very glad to learn about "glitter." I've just called it "water diamonds" and love to see it. Beautiful photo (as usual.)

Champ Townboy said...

Awesome shot!!

Lilli & Nevada said...

Fabulous view and i like the reflection on the water

Trish ~ ♥ ~ said...

Beautiful ~ I love beach and ocean photos.

esnorway said...

great shot great colors

FO - 2 said...

AMAZING!
I could stay in this moment for a long time!!! :)
The verse is great.
I think you would make a good poet. :)

Daniel J Santos said...

this is very beautiful, fantastic.

Shelley said...

The water looked like it was painted onto this lovely scene!

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

This is very beautiful skywatch picture. It's a nice combo with the blue sky and soft silvery water.

photowannabe said...

Fabulous glitter you have captured, and such vivid color too. Really nice.

Anonymous said...

Nice photograph to enter SWF.

Something different from me
Better Blog Writing

Anonymous said...

That's just gorgeous. The rays, the glitter, the color -- beautiful.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I love catching this lind of light across ater. Wonderful shot and so well named.

Louis la Vache said...

Sublime coloring in the sky and water!

Over at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo, we have a dance between the moon and the fog at midnight.

Aisha said...

Oh my! Look at those color combination! Amazing! :) This is a fantastic shot!

me ann my camera said...

I especially like the magic wand effect of the spears of light coming down from the off center left. Beautiful blues and beautiful light!

Kathie Brown said...

Love the view and the verse. All that science stuff is really interesting but it doesn't make me enjoy the view any more! Thanks for informing us, however. You know I love to learn stuff!

judi/Gmj said...

Awesome stuff.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful scene of sea and sky.

Patty said...

I love the way the water is glittering!

Sharon said...

The picture is just wonderful and I thought the verse ws cute!

Anonymous said...

terrific shot. love how the rays are touching the water. Beautiful.

abb said...

Gorgeous photo.

Poem....not so bad! Better than a lot of my haiku...well, that's not saying much!

Ladynred said...

Simply amazing shot. Love the glitter.
Scrapbooking and Photography

Lew said...

Lovely view of water and sky and a great photo!

Suzanne said...

Wonderful colours such a calming photo. Happy SWF

j said...

So very cool! I did a similar post today as well. Be blessed.

Jen

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Troy: Love the great capture today of a super view.

pts said...

what a fantastic photograph! i loved it!

duopastorale said...

Beautiful scene!
My SW

Larry D said...

Fantastic post and picture!

Catherine said...

Fantastic camaieu of blue! I would like , at this moment, being in that particular place. You're right the light reflecting on waves makes a nice silver effect. A beautiful painting you offer us.

Katney said...

Gorgeous!

Stacey Olson said...

Happy SWF to you both.. It looks like I could climb upon your glitter path and walk away forever. (If I tried I bet I would DUH!, I am no poet either)

AphotoAday said...

Interesting information about glitter...   And a very peaceful shot...

Alan said...

Beautiful scene, but I find myself Ocean Watching intead of Sky Watching. :)

Bonnie Story said...

Hi! What a nice blog - I like your focus on science and nature. Never knew so much about glitter, it really got me thinking. Happy skywatch! Bonnie

Linda said...

This is an amazing picture. Just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Nice photo. Thanks for sharing! My very "first" entry is up as well. Hope to see you there!

Cheers,
Nita's Random Thoughts
Nita's Corner
Thomas Web Links
Thomas Travel Tales
Great Finds and Deals
Bohol Paradise

Unknown said...

This is a great shots and what a lovely scene! Very well done.

becky aka theRAV said...

a perfect picture. Love the sun's rays over the glitter.

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

Hi! I wouldn't say that is a bad verse. Your photo is beautiful. I love the glitter and sunrays.

Maria said...

Beautiful view!
Have a nice weekend

AnneKa said...

Love the view and beautiful picture. Love from Norway/AnneKa

Anne-Berit said...

Fantastic photo,beautiful colours!

Janet said...

Yep, it glitters! Great photo.

Reader Wil said...

These different shades of blue are so great. A sky over water is always spectacular

Rune Eide said...

A brilliant glitter and instructive post, but I fell for the stone to the left in the foreground. I always prefer this kind of picture when it contains a foreground.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful picture. The poem is cute, no need for apologies. Corny yes, cute too! Hope you have a great week you two!