The Cellar - View Single Post - 1/25/2006: Gateway arch shadow projection

glatt · 01-26-2006, 08:42 AM

I've seen the Washington Monument at night many many times, but don't remember ever seeing any light pattern projected onto the clouds. I've seen bright haze around the top of the monument, but that's it.

I think that it's rare for this type of thing to happen. You have to have the perfect conditions. The air has to be clear down low, with heavy cloud cover at just the right altitude. The clouds need to be the kind that blanket an area, but aren't all irregularly shaped. It may only happen a handful of nights each year. Then you need someone to notice it and take a picture of it.

The photographer was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. The photographer was skilled to get the exposure right (nighttime photography is difficult to do) and the composition is good too, which may be skill, or may be luck.

The picture is a good one.

01-26-2006, 08:42 AM	#13
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I've seen the Washington Monument at night many many times, but don't remember ever seeing any light pattern projected onto the clouds. I've seen bright haze around the top of the monument, but that's it. I think that it's rare for this type of thing to happen. You have to have the perfect conditions. The air has to be clear down low, with heavy cloud cover at just the right altitude. The clouds need to be the kind that blanket an area, but aren't all irregularly shaped. It may only happen a handful of nights each year. Then you need someone to notice it and take a picture of it. The photographer was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. The photographer was skilled to get the exposure right (nighttime photography is difficult to do) and the composition is good too, which may be skill, or may be luck. The picture is a good one.