Fiery Sunset Over Mutare, Zimbabwe
October 14, 2015
Photographer: Peter Lowenstein
Summary Author: Peter Lowenstein
The photo above (top) shows the Sun setting over a ridge in Mutare, Zimbabwe, as observed on September 23, 2015. The bottom photo shows the unexpected appearance of a flaming fringe of the Sun's upper limb as it dipped below the tree-lined slope. This blazing sunset fortuitously concealed a bushfire behind the exact point on the ridge where the Sun went down. As darkness fell, flames from the fire could be seen burning vegetation on the back side of the slope. The fiery appearance of the Sun's limb resulted not only from refraction of the sunlight passing through the Earth's atmosphere but also from sunlight passing through the hot air and smoke rising above the hidden fire. Click here to see a video of this sunset.
Photo Details: Camera Maker: Panasonic DMC-TZ60; Focal Length: 129mm (35mm equivalent: 1500mm); Aperture: ƒ/6.4; Exposure Time: 0.040 s (1/25); ISO equiv: 640; in sunset auto mode; 60 x zoom magnification; Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 12.0 Windows.