Stranica 90 [90]
OCR
50 LIGHT AND WATER given as further instances of this general tendency. In the first of these the ripple (except in the wash of the steamer from which the view was taken) is very slight. The vertical lines of the buildings are distinctly repeated in the reflexion, the horizontal lines having, of course, disappeared. In Plate XVIII there is more ripple and a greater amount of sky reflexion, leaving comparatively vague streaks from the domes and towers of the church. Plate XIX represents a further stage. The motion of the water is much livelier, and nothing approaching to a definite reflexion of the yacht appears—not a sign of the mast, and only the vaguest of streaks from the sails. We have added a photograph of reflexions in slightly rough ice (Plate XX), which may be compared to reflexions in rough water on a small scale.. The vertical lines of the tree stems, though much blurred, are preserved, and there is no visible reflexion of the horizontal branches of the tree on the left. Much the same sort of effect is given by rain falling on still water. Owing to the elongation of the image in rippled water it sometimes happens that with the approach of a breeze an object becomes visible by reflexion which in the perfectly smooth water did not appear at all. This might be the case if one were standing on the high cliff at E, Fig. 4. As before explained, one cannot from this point see anything of the house in the smooth water, but if the image were prolonged on the rippled surface to twice or thrice its normal length, it would then become visible by reflexion from the farther sides of the waves. Another curious effect may be noted. In the first chapter attention was
