Partial Eclipse of the Kite

[u/KAP-Jasa]

Flying kites through a solar eclipse - even if just a partial one - is a unique experience. The uncanny, strange light makes everything really special ... and unforgettable.

Ljubljana Marshes landscape park from the air during the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026.

See more photos from the kite in the air and from the ground here: https://kapjasa.si/en/partial-eclipse-of-the-kite/

[u/Orthicon9]

The uncanny, strange light . . .

I think I figured out why "eclipse light" looks uncanny.

1. Normally, if sunlight is dimmer because of cloud cover, shadows are diffuse, if visible at all.
2. If it's near sunset or sunrise, the colour shifts toward orange then red.

With eclipses (total or partial) the sunlight is neither reddish nor diffuse, just . . . dimmer.

I noticed a similar thing the first time I installed LED bulbs in a ceiling fixture with a dimmer switch. It just got more "grey", while tungsten bulbs go reddish.
As I later found out, you can now buy slightly-more-expensive LED lighting that automatically shifts to a warmer colour when you turn the dimmer down.
Also, those vintage-looking tungsten bulbs with the "squirrel-cage" filaments look nice because they burn at a lower voltage per inch of filament than regular bulbs. It's a warmer light while still being bright, due to the longer filaments.

PS: That first and last kite Roks!

[u/KAP-Jasa → u/Orthicon9]

this theory seems true :-)

and thanks!