Digital Photographer - UK (2019-12)

An atmospheric phenomena visible everywhere

Find the

Belt of Venus

Have you noticed a pinkish band glowing in

the sky just before sunrise and again just

after sunset? It’s a sight very familiar to many

landscape photographers, though few know

what it is.

Get out at dusk with your camera and in the

east – opposite to where the sun has just set –

the sky will be pink as civil twilight begins. It’s

most pronounced directly east and tapers off

to the north and south. It’s a gorgeous, rich

colour that makes a fabulous backdrop to any

landscape photograph. It happens just before

sunrise, too, appearing in the west.

This atmospheric phenomenon, about 10-20°

above the horizon, is called the Belt of Venus

or the anti-twilight arch. It’s caused by the

atmosphere scattering reddened light from

the sun, which always appears red when it’s

rising or setting. It’s named because the planet

Venus is typically located in this area of the

sky. However, the Belt of Venus is a fleeting

phenomenon. Just underneath it, rising all

the time, is a band of dark blue. That’s Earth’s

curved shadow being projected onto the

atmosphere by the sinking sun. Occasionally it

strikes the moon, causing a lunar eclipse.

If you go to a very dark place, it’s

possible to see the sun’s light reflecting

off dust and rocks in the solar system.

A faint triangle called zodiacal light,

it’s easiest to see and photograph in

the northern hemisphere around the

equinoxes in September (look east 90

minutes before sunrise) and March

(look west for 90 minutes after sunset).

If your camera doesn’t catch it, increase

the ISO and/or shutter speed.

Seeing space dust

An ethereal, zodiacal light

7

Below

Think pink

The Belt of Venus

is a landscape

photography

staple. It’s visible

just after sunset

and before sunrise

The Belt of Venus is one of the reasons why

photography guides tell you to take photos

close to sunrise and sunset, though it’s only

obvious in a clear sky. Wherever you are, or

plan to be, check the cardinal points; the belt

will always and only appear opposite the sun.

Set your camera to ISO 100 and f/13, and

adjust your shutter speed until you’re happy

(the light levels will be quickly reducing).

Look behind you

Don’t forget to look away from the sun

x3 © Jamie Carter

TECHNIQUES

Anatmosphericphenomenavisibleeverywhere

Find the

Belt of Venus

Haveyounoticeda pinkishbandglowingin

theskyjustbeforesunriseandagainjust

aftersunset?It’sa sightveryfamiliartomany

landscapephotographers,thoughfewknow

whatit is.

Getoutatduskwithyourcameraandinthe

east– oppositetowherethesunhasjustset–

theskywillbepinkasciviltwilightbegins.It’s

mostpronounceddirectlyeastandtapersoff

tothenorthandsouth.It’sa gorgeous,rich

colourthatmakesa fabulousbackdroptoany

landscapephotograph.It happensjustbefore

sunrise,too,appearinginthewest.

Thisatmosphericphenomenon,about10-20°

abovethehorizon,iscalledtheBeltofVenus

ortheanti-twilightarch.It’scausedbythe

atmospherescatteringreddenedlightfrom

thesun,whichalwaysappearsredwhenit’s

risingorsetting.It’snamedbecausetheplanet

Venusistypicallylocatedinthisareaofthe

sky.However,theBeltofVenusisa fleeting

phenomenon.Justunderneathit,risingall

thetime,isa bandofdarkblue.That’sEarth’s

curvedshadowbeingprojectedontothe

atmospherebythesinkingsun.Occasionallyit

strikesthemoon,causinga lunareclipse.

If yougotoa verydarkplace,it’s

possibletoseethesun’slightreflecting

offdustandrocksinthesolarsystem.

A fainttrianglecalledzodiacallight,

it’seasiesttoseeandphotographin

thenorthernhemispherearoundthe

equinoxesinSeptember(lookeast 90

minutesbeforesunrise)andMarch

(lookwestfor 90 minutesaftersunset).

If yourcameradoesn’tcatchit,increase

theISOand/orshutterspeed.

Seeingspacedust

Anethereal,zodiacallight

7

Below

Thinkpink

TheBeltofVenus

is a landscape

photography

staple.It’svisible

justaftersunset

andbeforesunrise

TheBeltofVenusisoneofthereasonswhy
photographyguidestellyoutotakephotos
closetosunriseandsunset,thoughit’sonly
obviousina clearsky.Whereveryouare,or
plantobe,checkthecardinalpoints;thebelt
willalwaysandonlyappearoppositethesun.
SetyourcameratoISO 100 andf/13,and
adjustyourshutterspeeduntilyou’rehappy
(thelightlevelswillbequicklyreducing).

Lookbehindyou

Don’tforgettolookawayfromthesun

x3 © Jamie Carter

TECHNIQUES