Strange Visual Loops
Due to the shallow angle of the sun this time of year, civil twilight (dawn and dusk) draws longer than in lower latitudes. This, combined with other atmospheric effects, creates "abnormal" shifts of light and color. For instance, exhaust from a steam plant may look grey or dark purple instead of white. Most noticeably, sunlight paints the snow golden, leaving shadows an eerie electric blue color (see top right pic of tree shadows). Wiki Link: Sunlight
The non-traditional coloration of shadows by the French Impressionists (compared to the black and grays common at the time) played a large role in defining their revolutionary style. Monet's series of Rouen Cathedral paintings are good examples of this effect (see left pic). Although it seems boring now, aparently painting shadows in electric blues or lavender was nerve-racking to the average art "critic" back then.
Wiki Link: Impressionism (gallery tip: look at each separate quadrant of an impressionist painting from a 2 or 3 ft viewing distance - each quarter appears to be nothing but random splotches - now back away to the intended viewing distance, usually 20 ft or more, soften your eyes and the painting comes alive...the mind happy to fill in "missing" movement and detail)
Snow dogs are another interesting visual oddity up here. Think of them as rainbows caused by the refraction of light thru airborne ice instead of water. I noticed a few while driving yesterday, both as colored clouds to either side of the sun and as a single rainbow "leg" sticking straight out of a mountain top (see 2 bottom right pics). Polarized sunglasses are a must, as sun dogs are faint compared to the glare of the sun.
Snow dogs are another interesting visual oddity up here. Think of them as rainbows caused by the refraction of light thru airborne ice instead of water. I noticed a few while driving yesterday, both as colored clouds to either side of the sun and as a single rainbow "leg" sticking straight out of a mountain top (see 2 bottom right pics). Polarized sunglasses are a must, as sun dogs are faint compared to the glare of the sun.
Wiki Link: Sun Dog
Locals tell you that sun dogs are predictors of colder temperatures. It's now 2 days after I first observed them and the weather has dropped from -20 F to -45 F.
The Alaskan landscape is far from a bland snowy white, containing all sorts of visual strange loops. I wait curiously to notice Mother Nature’s next optical "illusion".
Wiki Link: Strange Loop
Afterthought:
For more examples of strange loops, consider picking up Douglas Hofstadter's book I Am a Strange Loop.
Wiki Link: Douglas Hofstadter
