Archives For rainbow

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Photographing Rainbows with a Circular Polarizer

Jay Patel —  February 20, 2013

The traditional use for circular polarizer in photography is for enhancing colors, reducing reflections on water, and cutting through glare on wet rocks. Here’s another great way to use a circular polarizer. Under right conditions, a circular polarizer can help intensify the colors of the rainbow. I used a circular polarizer to capture this shot from Niagara Falls in New York. In order to get such intense colors, I rotated the circular polarizer while looking through the view finder until the colors of the rainbow were at their brightest.

Rainbows are produced by white sunlight that is being scattered by water droplets in the air, so it’s important to realize that a circular polarizer can also reduce the intensity of the colors in the rainbow… or even remove it completely! I took this second shot at the same location on the same day – but I set my polarizer incorrectly to show the effect. The rainbow is barely visible in this second shot.

Use a circular polarizer to bring out those beautiful colors in the rainbow… but pay attention! Make sure the filter is rotated properly before taking your shot!

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Rainbow in Yellowstone

Varina Patel —  September 14, 2012

I took this shot in Yellowstone National Park near the end of a trip with out kids. Storms had been moving through the region all afternoon and evening, and we saw four or five rainbows in different locations as we drove along. As the sun neared the horizon, we pulled over and parked the car near a beautiful meadow. The kids listened to music in the car, while Jay and I took a few shots. We were rather glad that the sky didn’t do this every evening – with the kids along, we wouldn’t have been able to shoot regularly. :)

I shot with a GND filter. The GND let me capture the detail in both the shadows on the ground and the highlights in the sky. I nearly always use a GND filter to shoot sunrise and sunset. The dynamic range is simply to broad to be captured otherwise.

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The Promise

Jay Patel —  January 13, 2012

I took this shot on the side of the road in Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming). This shot sold – along with two others – as part of a collection for a “peaceful” display for a hospital chapel. The selection was not based upon location – but on mood.

I processed a single image twice in order to bring out the details in both the sky and the foreground. I blended using our iHDR workflow. I did not use any filters for this shot.

I wanted to capture both the reflections in the water and the brilliant colors in the sky. So, I placed the horizon close to the center – ignoring the rule of thirds. Heck – you have to break the rules sometimes, right? ;) I did place the rainbow using the rule of thirds.

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Composition - R1

Quick Tips: Stormy Weather

Jay Patel —  March 7, 2011

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For most people, stormy weather can be the ruination of an otherwise perfect vacation… but landscape photographers welcome storm clouds. Why? Because storm lighting is often dramatic and beautiful. So when the skies start to cloud over, pay attention… this is when things get really good!

  • Light is often best before or after big storms – so watch the weather, and be ready to shoot when the light is right.
  • Fast-moving clouds may open up as they move overhead – allowing beams of light to drop from the sky. Those beams can turn an ordinary landscape into a contest-winner!
  • When everything is wet, use a circular polarizer filter to cut through scattered light. It will cut through the glare, and reward you with rich, beautiful colors. But be forewarned! If you are photographing a rainbow, remove your circular polarizer! A rainbow is a result of scattered light – and the circular polarizer will erase it from your photo!
  • And finally, look for reflections and reflected light to add interest to your foreground.

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