Cloud Atlas
Cirrus (Ci)
High, wispy ice-crystal filaments that look like brushstrokes.
How to spot it
- Thin, fibrous or silky streaks
- Very high altitude; often little to no shading
- Often lights up early before sunrise / late after sunset
What it can mean
- Often appears ahead of a weather change (fronts/jet stream dynamics)
- Can thicken into cirrostratus
- Great ‘sunset enhancer’ because it catches light
Photography tips
- Best at golden hour — they ‘paint’ easily
- Underexpose slightly to keep fine texture
- Include a horizon anchor to show scale