A Newsport reader is hoping others may be able to help explain a mysterious purple light effect, as seen in the photograph below.

The reader, who didn't want to be identified, said the photo is completely untouched and was taken with a standard point-and-shoot digital camera. The scene is a cane field, facing west one late afternoon last week.

"I understand about light refraction in a rainbow, but one must be facing away from the sun to view this phenomenon," said the photographer. 

Does anyone know why this purple colour appears?

Please let us know by commenting in the comments below, or e-mail editor@thenewsport.com.au.