TOWN photographer Tarquin Shaw-Young has been taking some stunning shots of the Malvern Hills on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Picture by Tarquin Shaw-Young. s
On December 25, Tarquin took these fantastic sunny images on what was a particularly mild day.
Picture by Tarquin Shaw-Young. s
Then on Boxing Day, Tarquin managed to capture the ‘Brocken Spectre’ phenomenon and a ‘white rainbow’ or ‘fog bow’.
The Brocken Spectre is a rare optical phenomenon which occurs when an observer’s shadow is cast onto a cloud or mist, often in mountainous or foggy regions.
Picture by Tarquin Shaw-Young. s
The shadow appears magnified and surrounded by a halo-like ring of rainbow colors, known as a glory.
This phenomenon happens when the Sun is positioned low behind the observer, casting their shadow onto the mist droplets.
Picture by Tarquin Shaw-Young. s
The circular halo is created by the diffraction, reflection, and refraction of sunlight in the water droplets.
The Brocken Spectre is named after Brocken, a peak in Germany’s Harz Mountains, where it was frequently observed and described.
Picture by Tarquin Shaw-Young. s
Tarquin told the Observer: “Both these phenomenon are rare to see but even rarer still to see them both in the space of 20 minutes – as happened to me on Boxing Day.
Picture by Tarquin Shaw-Young. s
“I have seen white rainbows in New Zealand and captured a Brocken a few weeks ago.
“In the last few days, there have been near perfect conditions on the hills, enabling these pictures to be taken.”
