Photographing a rainbow can be hard – being in the right place at the right time is as much down to luck as skill. Follow our tips and improve your chances of seeing one – and then getting a great shot.
1. Have your camera with you
OK, so you won’t go out to photograph a rainbow without your camera, but what if you see one and you’re not prepared? A digital SLR and lens can be pretty heavy to lug around all the time. Many photographers also have a compact camera, something small enough and light enough to keep in a coat pocket or bag at all times.
2. Find a rainbow
Not as daft as it sounds! To get a rainbow you need light shining in your direction with droplets of water inbetween. You can check the weather forcast to work out your chances, or use a permanent source of water droplets like a waterfall or a fountain to get your rainbow. You could even be sneaky and make your own, using a garden hose or a spray bottle!
3. Can you get a dark background?
Rainbows show up better against a dark background. Can you get some stormy clouds or mountains behind it?
4. Use a polarizing filter
If you have a polarizing filter, use it. It will increase the contrast and cut down on any glare in your scene, allowing the rainbow to stand out. Try rotating it and seeing the effect it has at different angles.
5. Use a tripod
If you have one with you, use your tripod. It’ll help you keep the shot steady, and allow you to use a lower ISO number, for a higher quality shot.
I have a tripod. I keep it in the boot of the car so it’s handy, but I still hardly ever use it as I hate carrying heavy gear around. Did anyone say I have to follow my own tips?
6. Aperture
It’s hard to focus on a rainbow, even if you do it manually. Choose as small an aperture as you can, and make sure you get as much of the scene in focus as you can.
7. Composition
Most photographs of rainbows include the whole thing. Take a look at the points the rainbow meets the ground, and consider a close-up, zooming in on this area.
Check out 10 photos of rainbows.
Great article Mike! I feel like find myself a rainbow now. I'm in Cairns at the moment and my partner went for a walk (while I was working!) and came back saying how she just saw the perfect 'full' semi-circle (a bit of a contradiction there) rainbow and how I should've been there with my camera. If only we didn't have to work!
P.S. The link at the end of the article seems broken?
Thanks Thomas. Work does get in the way of everything, doesn't it? Fixed the link. The dangers of changing permalink structure…