Pacific Double Light Sunset

December 06, 2016

Double Light Sunset (3)

Photographer: Aaron Pillar
Summary Author: Aaron Pillar
 
The photo above showing the late afternoon Sun filtering through an altocumulus cloud deck was taken near Hollywood, California. But what appears to be an ordinary sunset is actually quite unique. While the Sun is shining from behind the cloud deck, if you look closely you'll notice that the clouds are also being lit from below. Why? The Sun reflecting off the Pacific Ocean, some 15 mi (24 km) away, is shining back onto the bottom of the cloud layer. So the clouds are being illuminating from two entirely different directions. Photo taken approximately 4:10 p.m. on November 19, 2016.
 
Photo Details: Camera Maker: Samsung; Camera Model: SM-G920P; Focal Length: 4.3mm (35mm equivalent: 28mm); Aperture: ƒ/1.9; Exposure Time: 0.0019 s (1/524); ISO equiv: 40.