Dandelion 'Corona'

Dandelion scattering Dandelion scattering

Not really a corona of course, but these coloured rings around the sun are caused by diffraction.

Deliberately underexposing the image brings out the bright strands of diffraction colours more clearly.

Dandelion scattering Dandelion scattering

This closeup shows diffraction bands from individual fibres in the tiny parachutes.

In this shot the sun is at upper left behind the leaf. The fibres tangential to the sun diffract the light more strongly, showing up as concentric streaks, rather like the spider web glitter path.

Dandelion scattering

This closeup shows diffraction bands from individual fibres in the tiny parachutes.


Canon EOS 20D   5th May 2007
Wiltshire, England

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