Photographers Achieve Rare Double Capture of the Green Flash
In a remarkable photographic achievement, members of the Meteo Isla Bonita group—a collective of about 20 enthusiasts dedicated to studying and sharing meteorological phenomena—have successfully captured four instances of the elusive green flash over two consecutive days. The feat began last Wednesday when the group gathered with their cameras at the ready to photograph the sunset, specifically hoping to witness and capture the legendary optical phenomenon.
An Unprecedented Double Sighting
From within the group of enthusiasts, local photographer Benjamín Brito Fernández achieved something extraordinary. At approximately 8:09 PM, he managed to capture two distinct images of the green flash during the same sunset. This is believed to be an unprecedented event, as no other cases are known of two different green flashes being captured on the same day—a possibility made reality by modern camera technology. This initial sighting took place at the Las Hoyas lighthouse in Tazacorte.
The Phenomenon Strikes Again
The following Thursday, under similar meteorological conditions, the natural optical phenomenon occurred again. This time, two other members of Meteo Isla Bonita succeeded in capturing it: Roger P. Frey photographed it from Tacande in El Paso, while Pedro Miguel Hernández Rodríguez managed to record it on video from Puntagorda. Both photographers have previously sighted and captured this fleeting flash, which occurs in less than a second due to the refraction and dispersion of sunlight at dusk.
A Growing Attraction on La Palma
Sightings of this flash during sunsets on the island of La Palma are becoming increasingly common. The three photographers—Fernández, Frey, and Hernández—along with others, have successfully documented it on multiple occasions. The hobby of seeking out and observing the green flash is growing in popularity and has long been suggested as a potential tourist attraction for the island, although local political leaders have yet to take any initiatives to promote it.
The Legend and Science of the Green Ray
The popular legend, collected and novelized by writer Jules Verne, claims that any couple who manages to see a green flash, named for the color it emits, will fall deeply in love, and their love will be eternal. For decades, the scientific community doubted the existence of the green flash, which is a genuine optical phenomenon, until it was popularized by the French writer Jules Verne (1828-1905) in his 1882 novel “Le Rayon Vert” (“The Green Ray”). More recently, filmmaker Éric Rohmer featured it in his 1986 film “Le Rayon Vert,” which was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival.
*María Victoria Hernández is the official chronicler of the city of Los Llanos de Aridane (2002), a member of the Canary Academy of Language (2009), and a member of the Royal Canarian Academy of Fine Arts San Miguel Arcángel (2009).
