12022-03-17T21:46:39+00:00KSL Exhibitsad59ae249b808d7092ad4d02c088e1a23747e1282022 Case Western Reserve University SubmissionsDaniela Solomon33structured_gallery2024-03-19T17:57:45+00:00Daniela Solomone316041929e7cb3504341dbd1e9eb2f7bd821a14
Ian Dorney CWRU Graduate Student School of Medicine
Rainbow Perch The striking vibrant coloring of the male Anna’s hummingbird is the product of multiple layers of light reflection from its complex feathers. Air bubbles within tiny pigment-producing organelles called melanosomes allow some light to reflect off the surface and some to pass through the tiny air bubbles. When the wavelength of entering light matches the thickness of the air bubble exactly, the light wave is reflected back in phase with the light wave that was reflected off the outer surface, amplifying the color. The colorful array is only visible from certain angles and is entirely dependent on the direction of illumination - Anna’s hummingbirds often appear completely monochrome. Taken near my house in the Pacific Northwest, Anna’s hummingbirds are native to the western coastal region and I remember waiting at the feeder for one to appear while growing up. This digitally untouched picture shows the beauty of this hummingbird and its elusive coloring.