Iowa Photo: Setting up a sunburst

In photography, diffraction can be your friend

Jun. 27, 2021 6:30 am

A small aperture creates a sunburst effect as water drips from a waterslide Monday, June 21, at Cherry Hill Aquatic Center in Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Inspiration struck while I was at Cherry Hill Aquatic Center for an assignment. I must have looked odd standing under the water slides weaving side-to-side and front-to-back putting the sun just at the crux of the slide and one of the support columns.

I was trying to achieve a sunburst or starburst effect in my photograph. I used a lens opening of F18 to accentuate the pointed rays. I like the deep blue sky and shapes of the straight and twisting slides. Beads of water from the dripping slide adds another element to the photograph.