Under The Rainbow Photo

Photographer’s Note

Subtitle: RAINBOW & LUPIN

Some time ago I had a posting in Forum, enquiring about possible effects by photographing rainbows with POL-CIR filter.

My first experience with this was last year, when I photographed this magnificent rainbow as I was driving across the Dovrefjell mountain plateau. At least I thought so. When I downloaded the pictures upon my return home I discovered to my surprise there was no rainbow!

A POL-CIR filter will remove some of the light reflected from for instance water. A rainbow is water, but the question is weather the light is refracted, reflected or maybe a bit of both.

By coincident I made a discovery while photographing a rainbow last month. By full polarizing effect and camera in landscape position I get great rainbow images. However as I turn the camera 90 degrees clockwise to portrait format the rainbow disappears, but only through the viewfinder as it is still there in front of me…

Anyone around with similar experiences?

Anyone with an explanation to what I have described above?

The image shown here is slightly underexposed, photographed with a polarizing filter and cropped.

File size: 172,3 KB
Creation date: 18.08.2009 17:58
Last modification: 19.08.2009 18:57
Make: NIKON CORPORATION (http://www.nikon.com)
Camera: NIKON D300
Lens: AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G IF-ED
Software: Ver.1.00
Dimension: 455 x 600 px (0.3 MP, 3:4)
Focal length: 70 mm (equiv. 105 mm)
Aperture: F8
Exposure time: 1/30" (-0.33 EV)
ISO speed rating: 200/24°
Program: Aperture priority
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Auto
Focus Mode: AF-S
Image Stabilizer: On
Noise Reduction: Off
Flash: Flash did not fire

jhm, pierrefonds, paura, UlfE, Kielia, vasilpro, ahmetgedikli, belido, Amaz, josepmarin, Cricri, feather, ChrisJ, TopGeo, emogirl, wgreis, alvaraalto, yedirenk, jafadabret, mvdisco, gervaso, shevchenko, JCG, asajernigan, plimrn, Charo, jusninasirun, jimkil, subhendu_bagchi, Ola_Kwiatek trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

pastadog (12821) 2009-09-11 1:46

You obtained a nice image, with a pretty rainbow against the dark clouds, and an intriguing spot where the rainbow touches the forest

pajaran (3604) 2009-09-11 1:47

Zdravi iz Srbije.
Duga zelja ...
Dobro prikazan trenutak koji je stvorila priroda prikazana ovom punom divnih boja fotografijom.
Sve najbolje, Paja.

Photograph2u (587) 2009-09-11 3:38

Hello Pablo, this is beautiful, and perfect timing. The rainbow is rich in colour. And maybe a pot of gold at the bottom.
The green is also vivid.
Cheers.

jhm (83073) 2009-09-11 3:53

Hello Pablo,

A rainbow is always a very nice subject for take.
Very colourfully image.
Excellent perspective and amazing area too.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

pierrefonds (26505) 2009-09-11 4:17

Hi Pablo,

There is a good contrast between the colors of the sky, of the rainbow and the colors of the trees. The trees in the foreground leads our eys toward the mountain in the background which is giving depth to the composition. The subject is well framed. Well done, have a nice day.

Pierre

rodgerg (24631) 2009-09-11 4:57

Hello Pablo,

A very nice landscape under a superb rainvbow very well collected. Good use of vertical format and very nice harmony in the colors. composition very simple and very efficience.
Best regards,
Roger

delkoo (34574) 2009-09-11 5:11

hi pablo,

rainbow is something magical, you get it in full glory and share it with us.
i like this view, nicely spotted and well executed.
didier

paura (38906) 2009-09-11 7:37

Pablo,
Beleza de imagem aqui, tomada de um excelente ângulo e com um primoroso enquadramento. A cores também são destaque.

Abraço

Paulo

UlfE (9072) 2009-09-11 10:33

Hei Pablo,

Your rainbow picture is splendid and I read your note with great interest. I have no similar experience of rainbow photographing but I is quite obvious the the result could be different if you turn the camera 90 decree but as far as I understand you will have the same result if you turn the outer ring of the filter. 90 degrees. Maybe I missunderstand what you mean. The result here is absolutely perfect and would say that keep experimenting with your filter and you will very soon have experience you could make use of. I will definitively explore the posssibilities next time I see a rainbow. TFS for sharing both the photo and your experience. Have a nice weekend!

Cheers,

Ulf

Fis2 (46155) 2009-09-11 11:39

Witaj Pablo!
Fantastic scene, wonderful colours.
Superb colors and light.
Photo has climate.
Regards
Krzysztof

Kielia (8625) 2009-09-11 11:49

Hi Pablo,
very interesting experience you are describing in your note!
This image is excellently composed with very beautiful colors (especially the sky is great) and contrasts, it seems to be an ultimate summer impression of your region. My compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet

berek (28979) 2009-09-11 11:55

Hi Pablo,
beautiful rainbow my friend. nice light and timing. I like it.
have a nice weekend.
Burak

vasilpro (9162) 2009-09-11 12:17

Hello Pablo,
Beautiful landscape, amazing rainbow.
Have a nice WE, Vasilis.

saxo042 (16058) 2009-09-11 12:19

Hi Pablo,
This is a very fine rainbow, I have read your note with great interest, but I have no experience at all of filters etc. Next time I see a rainbow I will turn my polarising sun glasses 90 degrees to see what happens... Very good colours here anyway!
Kind regards
Gunnar

ahmetgedikli (22032) 2009-09-11 12:53

Perfect shot! Excellent colours, lighting and very good POV. Well done!
Have a nice weekend.
ahmetgedikli

belido (16691) 2009-09-11 13:26

Hi Pablo,

it seems you have learned how to shoot the rainbows. Here I see attractive intense colors. I never had the chance to shoot those beauties. Very nice play with the green land in this vertical format. Very well done!
Regards,
Carlos

bobocortis (14144) 2009-09-11 13:34

Hello Pablo.
The rainbow fall down in the middle of the wood, fantastic!
Good depth in this shot thanks to the fg's vegetation.
Best regards.
Bobo.

anesugur (16934) 2009-09-11 14:17

Hello Pablo,
An amazing photo.
Superb sharp and clear composition with very beautiful colors.
Thanks and best wishes. Uğur

ribeiroantonio (21957) 2009-09-11 18:31

How did you manage such a good colour separation? It seams that you were really close to the rainbow. Well done.
Antonio

gneufeld (15229) 2009-09-11 19:53

Hi Pablo,
Good rainbow shots are not easy to get, so this one is a winner. Good light and strong colors are beautiful. Well done and TFS. Gerald

bracasha75 (22227) 2009-09-11 23:06

Helo Pablo
Very good scene just like i like and excellent color set
Very good work
Thanks for sharing
Bratislav

skippy007 (7245) 2009-09-12 0:00

Hello Pablo, Just three or four days ago I saw a beautiful rainbow, I had my camera with me but unfortunately I was not in a good position, I was in the middle of traffic, by the time I could get a good look at it it was almost gone, I took some and was thinking of posting at least one but it is only very average, it is my first rainbow that I have. This is magnificent, nice colours against the grey sky, nice light at ground level. I had similar experience where the rainbow come out in good colour but in in one shot the rainbow was gone & only a streak of white light remains. I turned the camera around a little to recompose the shot and to my surprise all the colours of the rainbow where gone, there was only a white streak to be seen, the sky was over exposed in this particular shot, I think that was my problem, I have a UV filter on my lens???.
Thank you
Regards
Santo

ophelcia (5494) 2009-09-12 1:04

The wide range of green colours is also magnificent, not saying that the rainbow is amazing:) I don't have any experiences with the polar filter, but I've heard about rainbows disappearing while using it:)
Take care, Gosia

Amaz (7186) 2009-09-12 2:43

Wowwwwww!!
What so excellente capture, Pablo!!!
Excellenet composition and absolutely amazing colors of this rainbow, my friend!!

Great work!!!

My congrats!!

jmdias (19649) 2009-09-12 3:12

pablo

nice image, the rainbow is strongly maked in the landscape while in an usual photo it would be more soft. beautiful framing, colors, sharpness and pov

hugs

jorge

josepmarin (33955) 2009-09-12 9:20

Hi Pablo,
I'm sorry not to be able to answer to your question, I also use a CP but I have not had experiences with rainbows.
But your photo is magnificent, the rainbow is outlined on the landscape with a very special luminosity and is very attractive at sight.
I like the chromatic level of the image, because it gives a lot of strength to your composition.
Beautiful work.
Best regards,
Josep

Cricri (43462) 2009-09-12 10:01

Hello Pablo
Une belle utilisation du filtre pola, la lumière et les couleurs au top, tout comme la prise de ce moment magique, belle réalisation
Good week end
cricri

Urs (3100) 2009-09-12 10:54

Dear Pablo

Rainbows are really a nice natural phenomena and you captured it beautifully. Congrats. It must be said, that your really were at the right spot at the right time, because you saw from where the rainbow was coming. Great sharpness and fine contrasts as well. well done

Best regards
Urs

feather (49960) 2009-09-12 14:04

I guess your question is one for the scientists. It certainly worked perfectly this time with gorgeous colours. The problem often is that a rainbow is so fleeting we have little time for experimentation.
Kath

AKITA (5463) 2009-09-12 19:42

dear Pablo,
a clear and beautiful shot of the rainbow feet.
the POL-CIR filter blocks and eliminates the randomly scattered light lays, therefor through it, the rainbow would be seen as more deep colors.(these are regularly scattered lights),
it needs some photos in different directions(0-90deg.) and non filter shot to correctly judge that problem. please try the experiment.
anyway, nice shot of the rainbow, thank you,
Akihisa

ChrisJ (70373) 2009-09-12 23:09

Hi Pablo

Wonderful colour spectrum of the rainbow, with excellent sharpness, saturation & framing. Good choice of a vertical format. Have a nice weekend!

Graal (58445) 2009-09-12 23:17

Hi Pablo,
nice view, good shot after the rain. Effect of rainbow and polariser is ok. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

mesutilgim (37098) 2009-09-12 23:35

Hello Pablo,
I don't know what's the difference here, but this "rainbow" scene is somehow different from many other similar entries.
Bery good pov and perfect layout. I like the light at the center of the frame.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Giorgio (8750) 2009-09-12 23:43

- Nice and rare composition Pablo, superb rainbow in bonus very well formed, I like this, bravo!
Have an excellent sunday.
giorgio

serp2000 (9637) 2009-09-13 0:08

Hej, Pablo,
I remember old Scorpions song:
"I see the rainbow in the sky,
so many colors in the light"
Well done. Simple minimalist composition, but very attractive photo.
All the best wishes from Ural,
Serghei

mauro61 (16058) 2009-09-13 0:40

ciao Pablo,
arcobaleno che attraversa la campagna e il tuo scatto.
Il taglio verticale aumenta la bellezza della scena con il buon contrasto tra il cielo grigio e il verde della campagna.
buona domenica
maurizio

TopGeo (22027) 2009-09-13 1:00

Hi Pablo! I do not know indeed it brings chance thus they say, but they is the joy of children when they see rainbow! Good moment and note.
Best regards,
Georgios

emogirl (108) 2009-09-13 4:20

Hi there :)

uau,sipmly amaizing this photo,wonderful colours.
Just perfect,i loved this picture,its going to my favorites.

Congrats

Anna

wgreis (6084) 2009-09-13 6:27

Hi Pablo,
what a very beautiful rainbow. I like the vegetation of the place too.
Very good colors and sharp.
Have a nice Sunday.
Wagner.

Longroute (9635) 2009-09-13 8:00

Hello Pablo,

I remember your forum post... but I cannot help you: I've never tried to photograph rainbow. Any way what you have found it makes sense to me.

I like this simple but very clean and alive composition: the rainbow contrasts chromatically with the dark sky and the green of the vegetation is so tender and intense. A photo with great graphic potential.

Best regards,
Donato

Silvio1953 (42431) 2009-09-13 8:24

Ciao Pablo, fascinating composition with splendid rainbow, wonderful light and colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

leonorkuhn (13877) 2009-09-13 10:49

Hi Pablo,

Amazing scenery with the rainbow very well captured! All seven colors are clearly visible. Light and colors are great here.

Well done!
Have a nice week
Leonor

carper (65350) 2009-09-13 11:07

very nice shot here Pablo, a fine composition, good balance, fine capture of this rainbow, good colors to, fine photo job, have a good evening.
\regard jaap

Nicou (45381) 2009-09-13 11:44

Hello,

Fantastique qacr-en-ciel,quel trait de limière dans ce merveilleuy payasage, un emerville, superbe.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

alvaraalto (5267) 2009-09-13 13:40

Hi Pablo,

Very successful experiment with this rainbow picture (Did you found a jar with gold on the end if the rainbow). I don’t have much experience with rainbows. Every time I see one I don’t have my camera with me.

Groet Rob

barrufeto_77 (25897) 2009-09-13 15:52

Hi Pablo.

That colours are...impressive! How you caught them is lovely for sure!

My compliments!

yedirenk (7513) 2009-09-13 18:08

Hi Pablo,
great atmosphere with superb rich colours and perfect light.vertical format,sharpness and light management are eye catcher.amazing moment and nice scene with wonderful rainbow.TFS
Greetings

Cevdet

jafadabret (40075) 2009-09-14 0:57

Bonjour Pablo.
Tout est parfait dans cette photo. L'arc-en-ciel est superbe mais aussi la lumière sur la végétation au sol et les belles couleurs du ciel.
Excellent !
Jacques

wolf38 (13011) 2009-09-14 7:07

Hello Pablo. The photo is excellent. I admire motive, colors etc.…. however the photos with the old D50 was likewise of very high quality. I hope that you did not put the old camera (a jewel in your hand) to the side. Best regards, Wolfgang.

mvdisco (11581) 2009-09-14 7:22

Hi Pablo,
WoW! What a caught of view of this Rainbow !!!(Arc-en-Ciel)
Nice presentation and composition as usual,
great colors and light,
Beautiful naturel colors picture and congradulations.
Michel..

anducina (8125) 2009-09-14 11:04

Hi Pablo,
Amazing scene, it gives me some kind of paranormal feeling. The Aliens are coming :) Excellent contrast between the grey sky, the fresh green and the intense tones of the rainbow.
TFS,
Andreea

emka (22009) 2009-09-14 15:25

Hi Pablo,

I like rainbow, this is so clear. Beautiful light under it. Interesting considerations about the filters. I rarely usae pol-cir filter, so I cannot tell. I like this lupin.

regards

Malgorzata

gervaso (5524) 2009-09-14 16:58

Hello, Pablo!

Wonderful picture of the rainbow, and besides the different tones of green are beautiful, and with excellent sharpness! Good job!

shevchenko (10016) 2009-09-14 19:15

Hi Pablo,
Clear to see the colorful rainbow, I like the vivid clumps too, I was shoot photos of rainbow with pocket camera, but it doesn't work, but while shooting it with camera of a mobile phone I was obtained a distinct image, intriguing.
Have A Nice Week.
Ally

John_F_Kennedy (31827) 2009-09-14 23:50

Hello Paolo,
Beautiful coloured composition of this wonder of anture, simple beautiful. I love it !
Best wishes,
Achim

AiresSantos (42624) 2009-09-15 0:57

Hi Pablo
Wonderful colours, very well caught the rainbow.
Beautiful POV, very well framed and done
Have a nice day
Aires

Greg1949 (8511) 2009-09-15 4:11

Pablo, nice note about the difficulties of shooting rainbows. I know that with the CP on I get rainbows when I shoot the canopies of the jets I work with. I have not noticed a rainbow recently but will no go hunting for one. Fine capture, the colors of the reflected light are nicely saturated and the fading between colors is well seen.

Greg

gildasjan (24013) 2009-09-15 8:12

Bonjour Pablo
Belle intensité de couleurs pour ce bout d'arc-en-ciel sur ce ciel gris.
Bonne soirée
Amicalement
gildas

jemaflor (39617) 2009-09-15 11:57

Hi Pablo,
excellent result with this perfect light and colors capture of this rainbow, well framed with a vertical frame.

JCG (25617) 2009-09-16 2:22

Hello Pablo,

Cloudy landscape agreeably contrasted and luminous where this splendid rainbow arises well revealing all its colors. Attractive photograph, thank you Pablo.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

Rafer (4462) 2009-09-16 9:53

Excelente contraste de colores...saludos

plimrn (19688) 2009-09-17 16:15

Hi Pablo,
I can't remember seeing a rainbow photo with such intense colors. The sunlight add shadow add even more drama.

I had been removing my polarizer for rainbows; next time I will experiment more. Thanks for the note.
HLJ, Pat

BilboCA (734) 2009-09-18 21:19

Hi Pablo,

Well, you have gotten me curious about the technical aspects of light scattering that forms rainbows and also about the workings of the circular polarizers.

I know that the traditional linear polarizer (for film camera) works by blocking electromagnetic radiation when the electric field has a particular orientation. The elimination of glare off of a reflection is possible because the reflection is enriched in light with the electric field parallel to the plane of the reflecting surface. I'm guessing that a circular polarizer functions in the same way but I don't understand why a digital camera needs that type of filter and can't work with a linear polarizer.

What your experiment demonstrates is that the light coming from the rainbow is itself polarized. This must mean that there is some commonality in the refraction of light by raindrops and the reflection of light from a water surface.

The photo itself is impressive for the brightness with which you've captured the rainbow. (I've looked back at some of my own rainbow photos and don't have any examples that are so brilliant.)

The three dominant shades of green in the well lit foreground add nicely to the scene.

Regards,
- William

clic (4063) 2009-09-19 7:37

Hello Pablo
You've been granted of a POT OF GOLD at the end of the rainbow, as in the legend of my youth: Those yellow distant trees shine beautifully between a grey backdrop that had strays done and the near greenery!
Thanks for your visit.
Robert

Angshu (33963) 2009-09-19 21:43

Hello Pablo
A pretty rainbow against the dark clouds...a sure shot recipe for a fine picture...add to that the colour variances in the foliage especially the bright yellow. Very nice...well done!
Regards
Angshu
ps : A good profile picture as well ;-)

Bluejeans (32793) 2009-09-21 5:46

Ola Pablo ,
Linda captura este arco íris suas cores ficaram magnificas , gostei muito da luz sobre as árvores o verde ficou bem vivo , bom uso da foto na vertical , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

emjleclercq (14414) 2009-09-23 12:42

A pleasant rainbow, well detached over the neutral grey sky. Nice colors for the foreground.

I have also been using polarizing circular filter lateley for rainbows, and it makes a definitive improvement, especially when the colors are slightly faded. But I did not experiment the phenomenom you describe.

All the best,

Emmanuel

Charo (31677) 2009-09-23 17:28

Hallo Pablo,
Vakkert bilde av denne flotte regnbuen. Excellent innramming, lys og farger. Jeg elsker dette fenomenet produsert av sol og vann, mer enn et vidunder av naturen.
Hilsen,
Charo

jaywalker (12242) 2009-09-24 9:52

Hi Pablo my friend, This is a beautifully captured picture, the rainbow is gorgeous & I love the veriety of greens through-out, there is excellent sharp quality & the overall composition works superbly, kind regards Wilson.

francio64 (11478) 2009-09-28 4:29

Ciao Pablo,
bel contrasto cromatico tra il giallo e il verde delle piante.
Spettacolare l'arcobaleno!
Gran bel colpo!

Francesco

fayeulle (26547) 2009-10-02 23:10

Hi Pablo
Classical rainbow shot . However I am always amazed with the fantastic colours of the nature.
Cheers
JP

jusninasirun (10211) 2009-10-05 1:17

Hi Pablo.

The rainbow in Norway is very photogenic :-)

Beautiful formation captured in full colors. The tight framing and details in the fg making it very graphical indeed.

Top class shot and well done.
Jusni

devimeuxbe (56100) 2009-10-05 23:07

Hi Pablo
beautifull contrast and colors. The composition is minimalist and work very well
Bertrand

gunbud (28069) 2009-10-06 20:40

Hi Pablo,
Wonderfully clear capture of this lovely rainbow.
Love misty silver blue sky and the rich light on the distant trees.
Did you find a diminutive Irishman at the end of the rainbow?
Regards, Tom

danyy (69223) 2009-10-07 23:35

Bonjour pablo,
le filtre polarisant est connu pour avoir un impact fort sue le rendu des arcs-en-ciel. Et si il faut encore le prouver, et bien voici la photo qu'il faut.
Très lumineux et fluorescent, il apporte sa magie à ce magnifique coin de nature.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

westcoastgirl1 (1457) 2009-10-10 22:00

Hi Pablo

I have always been fascinated by rainbows since I was a child. You have captured this beautifully. Very vivid and clear.

TFS,
Tosca

jimkil (622) 2009-10-12 1:58

Hello Pablo
Did a pot of gold make a return on this rainbow and photo? The rainbow stands out so well and contrast well against them high key greens superbly. The light is superb also, compliments on this capture.
Regards
Jim

subhendu_bagchi (3367) 2009-10-15 2:19

Hi Pablo,
nice capture of this beautiful rainbow in the grey background and nice contrast created here with the lash green foreground. Great use of light. Nice composition. Very well done.
Have a nice day.
Subhendu

didemay (2435) 2009-10-27 2:26

Hello Pablo,
I don't have any explanation on what you have described:):) but I definitely know that this POL-CIR filter worked very well.
Best Regards,
Didem

Ola_Kwiatek (2708) 2009-10-28 15:53

Wonderful rainbow, amazing colors, very fine brightness. Good whiten frame. Original work.
Cheers

jmcl (14037) 2009-12-07 14:14

Hi Pablo,

I will have to experiment .. this is certainly a wonderful rainbow image .. nicely composed layers on the ground and the rainbow (and the image as a whole) is so vivid. very nice, take care, John