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‘The Chosen One’?: There’s Actually a Scientific Explanation for This Amazing Photo

Feb. 26, 2013 3:05pm Liz Klimas

Subsun Phenomenon Creates Picture Of Snowboarder in Sparkling Pillar of Light

(Photo: Imgur via Dstroyrofwrlds on Reddit)

The photo above posted to Reddit was taken by the Redditor Dstroyrofwrlds in Grindelwald, Switzerland, who says it was not altered with photoshop. He calls his girlfriend carrying the snowboard in the picture “the chosen one,” due to the sparkling halo of light around her.

The top comment on the thread of the social news website asks: Can anyone do some science and tell us how that happened?

We’ll do our best.

As some Redditors have pointed out the light appears to be bouncing off of thousands of ice crystals. What is happening is the phenomenon known as subsun.

According to Atomospheric Optics, subsun is an “ice halo formed by reflection of sunlight from the upper and lower nearly horizontal faces of plate crystals. The crystals act as millions of tiny mirrors to form a reflected image of the sun. When the crystals have larger wobbles from horizontal the subsun becomes a lower sun pillar.”

Basically, the Atomospheric Optics’ website stated, when the ice crystals fall, they often orient themselves with their horizontal face surface up, creating drag. It is this surface from which the light reflects. The wobble, mentioned above, is from the crystal itself falling. A lower sun pillar, also described above, is when the subsun effect seems to stretch even more in a column.

Subsun, based on photos, is more frequently witnessed from an airplane with the light reflecting back off crystals in the cloud.

Here’s another example of subsun on a snow covered mountain that attracted skiers:

According to the description in the YouTube video, the height of the “sparkly” column of light shrank as the skier got closer.

“Once I skied into the shade it disappeared,” the YouTube user wrote. “I feel very lucky to have witnessed this event.”

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Comments (38)

Really2012
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:16pm
Hold the boat.. The “Chosen One” is Obama.. You expect me to believe Obama was skiing in Switzerland???

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- Stoic one
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:32pm
  sure… we will be told next week he is an avid and frequent skier…We just have to ask jay carney.
  
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mlimberg
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:53am
GOD Returns…… Look for Him to appear often to his children…..

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Gargent_Furball
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:12am
Three people were vaporized during the filming.

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57states
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:25am
nice chemtrails! WEATHER MODIFICATION nano particles

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kadster01
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:15am
This article has it all wrong. She really IS the chosen one. :-)

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- turkey13
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:35am
  This was some guys girl friend, not Obama.
  
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Hatchimon
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:06am
This would work in an energy drink ad.

“Red Bull gives you sparkles!”

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- nomemymine
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 6:17am
  Res Bull is an import. How about buy American?
  
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- PublicArtillery
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:44am
  Assassins creed, I like it! But wouldn’t the one for AC3 work better because it’s Patriotic-ish?
  
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Jrocks
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:09am
Oh ye of little faith

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universalphilos
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:53pm
Here is an undoctored photo I took in 1973 with a Nikon camera. About 30 years later, after trying many years to get photocopy stores to remove those rays from the photo, I realized that they were not artifact, but actually were real light rays. The thing was, the only light source in the room that evening (after dark) was a dimmer chandelier overhead and in front of the unconscious man, at a right angel to the rays. As you can see, they stream upon him from above the ceiling, showing up even in front of dark wood paneling.
We were sitting, listening to spiritual messengers of God speaking. We could feel their presence. Little did I know they light from God was so strong as it entered his body to speak, it showed in the photo. http://www.angelfire.com/in4/aup_messiah/1971Readings.html

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Berfie
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 6:02pm
I’m surprised The Won Usurper was not pictured like that since the brainless worship him.

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- mauijonny
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:51pm
  Oh. For God’s sake! Ski down the hill, already!
  
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Voter713
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 5:06pm
Its in our nature to be attracted to Light. Like a moth to the flame..for me God is the light not the dark and uses everything to tell us that we belong to Him. This is too cool.

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- WTFurnuts
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 5:29pm
  Beam me up, Scotty, there’s no intelligent life down here. And the skiing skills are lacking as well.
  
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Eastinfection
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 5:02pm
What’s his Midichlorian count?

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- DRT_7.62_BTHP
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 5:16pm
  The highest I’ve ever seen. They’re off the charts.
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 6:10pm
  I will train the boy.
  
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- Master_and_Commander
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 6:48pm
  Do not defy the counsel’s wishes, not again…
  
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- ChristianConservative76
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:11pm
  Lol, nerds… I would know because I’m one too.
  
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integrican
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 5:02pm
It’s actually James T. Kirk on R&R, on the planet Icetar.

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copatriots
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 4:57pm
Aha….you can’t get away with claiming this pic. 0 doesn’t ski or board. Mooch just returned from a high dollar ski vacation while you played around with the boyz.

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- Toltepeceno
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 5:31pm
  She didn’t carry that.
  
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Bronco II
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 4:47pm
I see there are alot of children here doing their usual mocking.I believe what one said GOD has His way of getting our attention if one choose to mock or ignore have at it only you will answer for it and I will answer for what I believe.GOD TALKS I LISTEN.Some have those spiritual eyes and ears open some don’t so I just pray and let GOD handle them.

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KickinBack
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 4:16pm
“Chosen One.”..Good call. Had you titled it something like “Hot Flashes” or “Sparky,” you’d be in big trouble mister.

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SimpleTruths
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:56pm
Another Reddit ripoff – the Blaze is getting lazier and lazier.

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TIMEBOMB
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:42pm
Loyal subject SUNTZU,the hat that adorns your magnificent gay Marxist rulers perfect head reads,entitleist.

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THX-1138
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:38pm
Sweet. Love the shots you could never do on purpose…

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wilbstal
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:35pm
i just puked

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diwer
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:34pm
great idea to take photo–bad idea to show girlfriend.– she will really demand special treatment now

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SUNTZU
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:34pm
is that a titless hat

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wilbstal
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:34pm
God is getting our attention but Obama is ignorant of what goes on in the real world

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GCT
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:33pm
When you visit Israel for the first time in September will you bring a 7 year treaty with you to fulfill Daniel 9:27?

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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:22pm
KUNG POW:
Chosen One….quack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JElywbkSbY

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- SUNTZU
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:33pm
  KUNG POW
  
  Chicken-buck buck
  
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- Zipit
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 4:19pm
  DARMOK! Sounds like an evening of frolick at the Obama residence!
  
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Gonzo
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 3:14pm
Looks more like a painting than a photo. Quite striking no doubt.

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