Skypools on a Canal

August 28, 2013

SkypoolParkhotel 040 (2)

Photographer: Hans Juergen Heyen
Summary Authors: Hans Juergen Heyen; Jim Foster

Reflection-buildingThe photo above showing what looks to be an odd map or an aerial image of cropland was captured near Dusseldorf, Germany. It’s actually the reflection of a modern office building and the sky viewed in the canal that fronts it (see inset). The strange patterns are distorted images of the details of the building on the surface of gently undulating waves. These horizontally elongated images of reflected skylight are referred to as skypools. In essence, they’re double images of the sky surrounded by distorted views of the shore. Such skypools can be readily seen if your line of sight is high enough that the entire surface of the wave can be observed. Photo taken July 16, 2013.

Photo details: Camera Maker: Panasonic; Camera Model: DMC-FZ100; Focal Length: 23mm (35mm equivalent: 133mm); Aperture: f/4.0; Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250); ISO equiv: 100; Software: Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery.