At first, photographer Ana Filipa Scarpa thought it was a real twister – but when she realised it was stationary, she ventured a little closer and the bizarre truth began to dawn. It was a tornado made up of millions and millions of mosquitoes!
Now, the extraordinary photograph she took over a Ribatejo wetland has travelled the world, even making it onto the Facebook page of US space agency NASA.
In less than 24 hours the photo was shared over 2,300 times and ogled at by over 13,000 users.
For Ana Filipa it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience – and something of a shock, particularly when the car she jumped into started filling up with angry mozzies – but according to Quercus, the phenomenon is not unusual in swamp areas.
The association’s João Branco said: “We call it an extreme phenomenon – a tornado carrying mosquitoes in a thermal of air. There were certainly millions, if not billions of mosquitoes in that place.”
The moment at the end of May 9, just outside Lezíria Grande, Vila Franca de Xira, earnt Ana Filipa Scarpa a place in the record books, which, as Público points out, may bring her some good luck.
The 54-year-old photographer has already won a number of awards and distinctions, but right now she is without any fixed work and simply takes photographs on the chance they may be selected in future competitions.
PHOTO BY: Ana Filipa Scarpa
