SunDogs from Northren Alberta, Canada

Wickapedia
Sundogs are formed by plate shaped hexagonal ice crystals in high and cold cirrus clouds or - during very cold weather - by ice crystals called diamond dust drifting in the air at low level.

Sundog forming rays enter a near vertical prism side face of a crystal and exit through a second side face inclined 60° to the first. There is net refraction at each face and the light is dispersed into colors. There is no single angle of deviation through the crystal, which effectively acts as a 60 degree prism, but the minimum angle of deviation is ~22°. This corresponds to the distance of the inner edge of the sundog from the sun when the sun is low.[2]

As the sun rises higher the rays passing through the crystals are increasingly skewed from the horizontal plane. Their angle of deviation increases and the sundogs move further from the sun.[3] However, they always stay at the same altitude as the sun.

Sundogs are red colored at the side nearest the sun. Farther out the colors grade through oranges to blue. However, the colors overlap considerably and so are muted, never pure or saturated. The colors of the sundog finally merge into the white of the parhelic circle (if the latter is visible).













I am not really sure how to photograph a sundog???? So I just winged it...This was what I got!

I also want to capture the Northren Lights while up north here...I really do not know how to go about that either.

I am open to all lessons on capturing light...both day and night!

I think you did well I personally like image one and three.

Never even heard of sundog so I can't help.
and as I live in the uk I've only seen northern lights on the TV or in books.

James

Hope you find some help (which I'm sure you will on this forum they are a clever lot hear, and they do follow up with good advice)

Dear Judith
I have found this link, good hunting


link

James

I've seen these in the UK a couple of times, but didn't manage to photograph the phenomenon as well as JudithAnn has here. It's an interesting phenomenomenon!

Wow, I've never seen any with more than a sliver on one side. Well done.

Frankly, I would be gobsmacked to see such phenomena let alone photograph it! Congratulations.
Cheers
Chris

Thank you James, I checked out the site, it was GREAT! I will now wait with a baited breath for the 'light show' to come.

I am more please with the pictures of the sundog after seeing'others' and also after your compliments

It has been an amazing winter here (Northen Alberta, Canada)for extreme cold and sky shows. I photographed what is know as a false sunrise...this is when it looks like the sun in the morning sky when it is only a reflection of the sun...it too is caused from a sundog....what you capture is the top arch. The sky has been bright yellow and deep oranges and pinks of all shades. Sometimes the orginal photo simply looks altered or photo shopped...it is so surreal!

What great photo opportunities....So until the night sky come in all it glory....I wait.

Excellent work Judith Ann. My favourite is the first one.

Number 1 for me as well, having seen the northern lights on a flight from the US they are amazing, looking forward to seeing your shots.

Regards

Colin

I'd also never heard of sundogs, at first I thought it was some kind of lens flare! Very interesting stuff, and nice shots too!

Very nice set JudithAnn. I had vaguely heard of this but I thought it was something to do with the Northern Lights. Beautiful photos - and something new learned as well.
david