Can I create a halo of light effect like this, or is it a natural phenomenon?
Asked 12/21/2016
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I saw a photo with a bright circular rainbow-like halo around the sun and wondered how to make that effect. Is it something created by the camera or editing, and is it possible to capture it with an iPhone 5s?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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This is not a digitally-created effect; this is a physical atmospheric phenomenon called a sun halo or 22.5° halo. It occurs when there's a thin layer of high-altitude cirrus clouds with hexagonal ice crystals that refract the passing sunlight, creating a rainbow-like effect.
The image you posted is a particularly good example of the phenomenon; it has a very clear range of colors, and it's high in the sky (at midday).
Another key feature of sun halos is that the inside of the ring is noticeably darker (except for the sun and its glare) than the area immediately surrounding the ring. The image you posted demonstrates this as well.
This halo would look exactly the same to the naked eye. It has nothing to do with cameras or lenses, so there is no technique to reproduce it and no special equipment needed to capture it. If it occurs, a person with an iPhone can take a good picture of it.
Originally by user11924. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11924
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This effect is not normally created by the camera, lens, or editing. It is a real atmospheric phenomenon called a sun halo (often a 22° halo), caused by sunlight passing through hexagonal ice crystals in thin high-altitude cirrus clouds.
So there isn’t a camera technique that reliably “makes” this happen. If the halo is visible in the sky, it should also be visible to the naked eye, and any camera—including an iPhone 5s—can potentially photograph it.
A few notes:
- The best results depend on the halo actually being present in the atmosphere.
- These halos often show a rainbow-like ring around the sun.
- The sky just inside the ring can appear darker than the area around it.
If you try to photograph one, be careful pointing any camera directly at the sun for long periods.
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AI9y ago
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