My Story Behind The Image
I had given up. I had gone back to bed. I had woken in the early hours and the storm was still raging and the rain was pelting down on our RV. I quickly looked outside and I decided that the morning was a wash and went back to bed.
That was until one of my best buddies, who we were traveling with on this trip, knocked on the window of our RV and said, "you better get out here, NOW."
I jumped up, grabbed my gear, which was already sitting by the door, and jumped out of our Motel on wheels to have this beautiful rainbow smack me right in the face. I literally ran across the southwest desert to quickly find a composition with Mitchell Butte within the scene and was able to snap off a few frames.
The intense light and double rainbow only lasted for about 2-3 minutes. When I stopped running in the sand to a spot I liked, I had my long lens (70-200mm) already on my camera, so I didn't want to waste time switching lenses, so I framed it up with a section of the lower rainbow nestled up to the butte and started clicking away. I only had time for a few adjustments to my composition. I then swtiched over to my wide angle lens soon after and grab a few nice images. However, I always gravitative to one of my first images I captured as my favorite, the image you see above.
Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you make your luck and sometimes you just need a good friend to have your back.
The Technique Behind Capturing A Rainbow In Nature
Now we have the backstory of one of my favorite images I've ever captured, I'll share my top tips for preparing to photograph a rainbow, optimal camera settings, and how to make sure you don’t miss out on that breathtaking sight, if you're lucky enough to see one when you're in the field photographing nature.
Preparing to Photograph a Rainbow
Be Aware of the Weather: Rainbows occur when sunlight filters through raindrops, typically after a rainstorm with the sun behind you. So, don't get discouraged if there is a thunderstorm happening or it's currently raining. You need drama in the sky for dramatic landscape photography.
Choose the Right Location: Most times this is not an option, but when you see 'rainbow weather' you should try and select a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky and horizon and where the sun is coming in behind you (see bullet above)
Prepare Your Gear: Make sure your camera, tripod, and any lens filters are ready when the opportunity arises. Using a filter, like I did in the image above where I used my 3-stop Polarizer from Breakthrough Photography on my lens, helps intensify colors and reduce glare, making your rainbow pop within your image.
Patience is Key: Rainbows can be unpredictable. Be ready to wait, and take this time to absorb your surroundings. And back to bad weather (see bullet point 1), you can't have a rainbow without rain. So, be patient and hope for the best.
Camera Settings for Photographing a Rainbow
Aperture: To best capture the vibrant colors of a rainbow, set your aperture between f/5.6 and f/8. This range captures the entire arc while allowing sufficient light. But, remember, every lens is different, so make sure you know where your lenses 'sweet spot' is, so when the rainbow shows up, you're not messing around with your camera.
Adjust Your Shutter Speed: Depending on the lighting conditions, your shutter speed may vary. A faster shutter speed between 1/250 and 1/500 seconds can help freeze the moment, especially in bright light. This might need to be adjusted if you're trying to include motion within moving water or if you're on a tripod and you can have a slower shutter.
Set the ISO: Keep your ISO low, ideally around 100 or at your cameras native ISO. This minimizes noise in your images, giving you an oppotunity to print and display your image someday on your wall. With today's technology, I'm fine with sometimes getting up to ISO 400 or even 800 in certain circumstances.
Shoot in RAW: ALWAYS SHOOT IN RAW. This setting allows for significant flexibility during post-processing, enhancing colors and adjusting exposures without sacrificing quality. There are many differnet sensors on the market. Some lean toward the red spectrum, some to the green spectrum. You want to make sure you have the most control of your colors when you're back home editing your files.
The Art of Rainbow Photography
Photographing a rainbow is not just about capturing an image; it’s about enjoying the experience of nature. The thrill lies not only in achieving that perfect shot but also in the adventure of seeing and enjoying a rainbow in the field. It doesn't come around too often, so, if it does for you, embrace the moment, click away and I hope you come away with a portfolio type piece that someday can hang on your wall.
If you're interested in the image above, Click the link below to purchase a print. Limited Edition, Museum Grade Acrylic Prints are available. If you don't see this particular scene in that folder, email me and I'll open up this series for you.
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