Flying turtlesNicholas SifuentesAward: Top 100
School: marist high school In this photo, one might first assume that small turtles are taking flight with some pine cones (observation courtesy of my younger brother) or that the turtles are out for a swim. In reality, the turtles are as happy as can be resting on the ground. This illusion is the result of a natural phenomenon involving one of the most commonly known properties of light, reflection. The reflection is so sharp and detailed that it creates an almost perfect symmetrical image of the objects above it. The phenomenon occurring here is known as specular reflection, which is typical on smooth surfaces where the angles at which light rays hit the surface are equal to the angles at which they reflect away. This is in contrast to diffuse reflection, which occurs on rougher surfaces and scatters light in many directions. The clarity and precision of the reflections in this image suggest that the surface is extremely calm and flat, enhancing the visual impact by creating a striking duality between the real objects and their reflected images. This kind of reflection not only contributes to beautiful photographic opportunities but also demonstrates the predictable nature of light behavior in controlled conditions. I took this photo by placing a mirror on the ground and laying the turtle and some acorns on top and i took a overhead photo with my iPhone camera. 
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