Mirage at Ile-Tudy, Brittany, France

July 30, 2014

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Photographer: Laurent Laveder
Summary Author: Laurent Laveder; Jim Foster
 
Shown in the photo sequences above is a superior mirage captured at Ile-Tudy, Brittany, France. Sein Island (Ile de Sein) is in the distance, some 11 mi (18 km) away. The tall white structure visible among the houses is actually located about .6 mi (1 km) behind them, on Cigogne Island. You can see how the aspect and ratio of the houses and the tall structure are transformed due to the mirage. In the first and second sequence, the aspect is normal but by the third sequence, the houses are vertically elongated (towering) and noticeably brighter -- the images are seen above the miraged objects. This phenomenon is often observed whenever warmer air overlies cooler air; for example on a summer's day when warm air stretches over cold sea water. The mast at left on the bottom sequence is the very top of a lighthouse. Sequences taken on June 23, 2014.
 
Photo details: Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II; Lens: TAMRON SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD A009; Focal Length: 200mm; Aperture: f/8.0; Exposure Time: 0.0020 s (1/500); ISO equiv: 200; Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.5 (Windows).