CAN you see what’s going on in this stunning picture of blue trees in the snow?
It may look like a painting but this is actually an aerial photograph of a line of trees taken on a snowy day – creating a weird optical illusion.
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The aerial shot was taken along a river and road in GermanyCredit: DPA
The incredible shot is one of a series taken along a road and a river near Sieversdorf in eastern Germany this week by photographer Patrick Pleul.
Although it looks like a line of tall trees that have turned a weird shade of blue, on closer inspection you can see the small black trees are throwing up the long blue shadows.
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Photographer Patrick Pleul took a series of shots of the ‘blue trees’Credit: DPA
Now for the science bit.
The reason for the striking colour is that because snow is white it reflects all colours.
On a clear day, with snow on the ground, shadows are tinted by the reflection of the sky and the presence of low sun means the blue stands out in stark contrast to the icy ground.
Another aerial shot of a group of camels walking through the desert recently went viral because of the optical illusion created by their shadows.
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The reflection of the sky mingles with the shadows to create a striking blue effectCredit: DPA
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education