Psychedelic Psky WC#656

Yep, Sanjay, another fine look at this optical phenomenon. As I said under my iridescence post, I believe that this is an effect caused by either the strain or curvature of the airplane window and your polarizer and yes, the sun angle may play a role also. The effect has produce some fine colors and the fair weather, open ocean clouds add very nicely to the image. It might be worth cropping the "clean" area at the top, but this is a neat image showing off very nicely an interesting optical phenomenon.

Very nice colors, really intense! This effect is caused by something that is called birefringence, which, as Mark said, is a result from the strain in the airplane window. Birefringence is the effect that light of different directions of polarization behaves differently while passing through a medium, which in this case is the window. That's why you won't see it without a polarizer. You can see the same effect if you hold a piece of hard plastic in front of a LCD screen (the LCD screen is a source of polarized light) and look at it through a polarizer. Not all plastic works, but the hood of my LP-player is perfect, as are jewel CD cases.

I agree with Mark's suggestion about cropping off of the top (and perhaps a bit on the right.) There's some reflection or dirt or other artifacts in those areas that detract from the image.

Also thought to crop off the dark section at the top, Sanjay, as it seems like a pall over what otherwise looks quite ethereal and phenomenal. Great shot other than that; real cool effect.