Pretty in Pink

Good morning folks. I photographed this tree a couple days ago covered in hoar frost. The Crystal Tree I coined it.
I went back the next morning before sunrise hoping the frost was back. Much to my delight it was. I sat on the side of the road in the dark waiting for the sun to come up for a sunrise picture with the tree. What I didn’t anticipate was the morning sun as it rose would reflect off the frosted tree giving all the branches a beautiful pink colour. This is not photoshopped this is the true colour…
A combination of perfect timing and science. The pink was brought on by Rayleigh scattering and the refractive properties of ice crystals. Also the scattering of blue light. The atmosphere is filled with gas molecules and small particles. These particles scatter shorter wavelengths of light such as blue and violet light. By the time the light reached the tree, the blue light diminished , leaving only the longer wavelengths reds, oranges. I was at the right place at the right time. Another case of preparation meeting opportunity. The pink tone often comes from the Alpenglow effect or the reflection of the sky’s gradient. Because the hoar frost on the ground is also white and reflective, it bounces the blue light from the upper atmosphere back up toward the tree. When this faint blue light mixes with the intense orangey red of the morning sun it turns a vibrant pink.

Very cool!!

Make it a great day, chase the light… cheers