2003 Winners Category 1: Science in Action

Winner

Enlarged view Photographer: Anton Pauw Title: The spectre and the spectrum Description: A rare glimpse of the Brocken Spectre at the top of Kogelberg Peak haloed by a Glory. The "apparition" is named after the Brocken, the highest peak of Germany's Harz Mountains. This phenomenon can be seen anywhere in the world when the right combination of clouds, light and topography allows bright sunshine to project the shadow of the observer through the clouds. The Brocken Spectre, like all shadows, reaches towards the anti-solar point - the point directly opposite the sun. Under the right conditions, the head of the Brocken Spectre is haloed in glories - rainbow-coloured rings that encircle the anti-solar point. Each observer sees a glory around his own shadow. Glories are formed when water droplets scatter the light of the sun backwards from the anti-solar point. The exact pathway that the light follows is still unknown.

Highly commended entries

Enlarged view Photographer: Alan Helmut Bucke Title: Volcanic ice Description: An iceblock melting under blue and white lights. Enlarged view Photographer: Thomas Niemeyer Title: Re-entering the atmosphere Description: A corroded copper plate (tower clock hand) with a re-inforcing steel bar being separated by a welding torch.

Enlarged view Photographer: Merryl Mary Riley Title: Spiderweb fantasy Description: The small imperfections in the spider web refract the light in different ways. A polariser emphasises the colours. The remarkable precision of a tiny spider creates a marvel of engineering achievement with the accurately placed threads coming together to create a formidable and relatively strong trap. Enlarged view Photographer: Elizabeth Kee Title: Ice crystals on grass Description: Ice crystals slowly accumulating overnight on blades of grass as a result of a dripping tap.