In the spirit of Minnaert, during an early morning observation we take a walk along the levee out to the lake and back along the canal to return to the classroom. We note the dew on the grass, sparkling like diamonds around each of our head shadows and at wider angles giving beautiful glints of color. This is similar to the rainbow experience with brighter sky within the rainbow and the spectral colors violet to red at the characteristic rainbow angle. We note the polarization of reflections from car surfaces in the parking lot and reflections off water surfaces. We note how the water surfaces present varying coloring and mirror qualities depending on our angle of view and the roughness due to wave action.
Whitecaps are always white.
When opposite the sun we note the sun glitter following each one as we move. The number and types of your observations will evolve over the course of the workshop. Always take the opportunity to observe optical phenomena on the ground. E.g. observe shadow characteristics, brightness and color effects, etc. The shortest solar shadow pointing directly North occurs at local solar noon.