A New Brunswick woman’s photographs of a brilliant weather phenomenon known as light pillars are capturing international attention.
Sophie Melanson snapped the photos outside her home in Moncton last Friday. It was the third time that week she had seen the bright light show.
“I grabbed [my camera] instantly because it’s not something that happens all the time and it’s very beautiful to capture,” Melanson told Global News.
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Light pillars, often seen in polar regions, appear when light bounces off the facets of flat ice crystals in the atmosphere. The light sources can be natural or artificial, such as street lamps.
She posted the photos on her Facebook page and what followed was an overwhelming response. So far, her photos have been featured in several websites and even made their way onto a weather news video in the Netherlands.
Melanson says the experience has been “awesome,” especially since her photos seem to be shining a spotlight on Moncton.
“I’ve seen comments like ‘another reason to visit Canada’ or even ‘move to Canada’,” she said.
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Melanson, who works as a web developer and has recently taken up photography, says she used a Sony a6300 mirrorless camera. She admits some people have questioned whether her photos are edited, but she says her touch-ups were minor.
“I edited a bit in Lightroom for my own creative touch,” she said. “But not very much was needed.”