As with illumination, Berann varied slightly the placement, length, orientation, and intensity of cast shadows within a panorama, depending on the presentation requirements of localized terrain. Despite the small variations, all cast shadows appear natural and consistent within the scene, probably because complex terrain makes light and shadow patterns difficult to gauge. Berann painted the cast shadows with dense neutral or cool colors that serve to balance the warm colors on illuminated slopes. Water surfaces Shimmering water bodies are a hallmark of Berann's panoramas. The appearance of water surfaces is determined by sun elevation and azimuth, clouds, wind gusts, adjacent terrain, and depths.
Colors range from dark blues in narrow mountain surrounded bays to light blues in open water.
On top of the blue Berann airbrushed white sun glints, in places with an intensity that suggests radiating energy. The effect is to highlight selected lakes, bays, and other water surfaces in a highly individualistic fashion. In general, his depiction of water surfaces tends to minimize the influence of surrounding terrain. Cast shadows rarely mar the water surface, even within fiord-like embayments, and reflected mountain sides appear only as subtle hints. Rivers are depicted in dark blue, while rapids and waterfalls are shown in bluish white.