Rainbows often cause immediate panic to a photographer.
Do I have my camera?
Can I get a good shot framed up?
Normally, the answers are not what I want them to be. The uncertainty of the magical rainbow dust in the sky leaves me to settle on something that is often uncompelling.
When I do happen to have my camera near, it can sometimes be really difficult to frame the rainbow inside an interesting composition before it evaporates. Many rainbows end in large sighs of frustration.
Every once in a while though, all elements come together. Here are a few of my favorite rainbow pictures over the years of chasing rainbows.
I was utterly obsessed with these small fish in Hawaii feeding near shore, perfectly framed up among the rock bed. Suddenly I felt tiny drops of rain fall over the scene, and the amazing rainbow came out shortly after to add even more impact to the scene.
I was out in the morning and I was about to wrap it up for the day when I turned around and saw it mocking me. I got the sense it had been there awhile. I pulled over and scrambled down the hill.
This event will remain vivid in my mind forever. I wrote an entire story about it. Until now, I had never been in a situation where I'm photographing a scene and a rainbow appeared exactly where I wanted it. This was a mesmerizing and fleeting moment.
To read the story about the dangerous pursuit of the rainbow in Kauai, it'll give you even more fantastic rainbows to leave you in awe.
A passing thunderstorm slowly revealed the clearing on the horizon. I grabbed my camera in anticipation of the bursting sunlight and headed out the door. Luckily the rainbow appeared where I expected and I had a composition ready for this moment.
The next time you see a rainbow, think of all those obsessed photographers out there. Send them positive thoughts of encouragement that the elements are aligned for them. We appreciate it!
