Witnessing Unusual Atmospheric Phenomena: Anticrepuscular Rays

It is one of the most unusual sights I rarely see. This image was taken off the Kona Coast of Hawaii early one morning looking westward toward the remnants of Hurricane Lane. These are Anticrepuscular rays, or antisolar rays. They are meteorological optical phenomena similar to the rays you would see radiating through clouds at sunrise at sunset or sunrise; anticrepuscular rays but appear opposite of the Sun in the sky. These rays are really parallel, but appear to converge toward the antisolar point, or vanishing point, due to a visual illusion.

When to Recognize the Quality of Light

There is something about early morning light that intrigues the soul. The landscape before me is an ascension from the darkness of night.

This example is played out with this photograph of the ancient Kohala volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

When looking for quality of light and color in nature it is important to pay attention to how light at low angles amplifies land forms. Soft light, ethereal feel.