Killer Rainbow
by Nicolaus Wegner
Sand Dunes Wilderness Study Area, Wyoming
We all have crazy stories that go along with our photographs...some real, others...well funny (Ian Plant's 6 month acid trips come to mind). I would like to share the story behind this photograph if you wish to read. If not, skip the below paragraph, but please take a look at the larger image and tell me what you think. If you find something amiss with the photograph, please let me know. Thank you.
I titled this one due to the wonderful storm I was stupid enough to be out in the open in 10 minutes before taking this shot (that and this is Killpecker Dunes...so it seemed to fit). I can honestly say the last time I was this terrified was my first week in Iraq in 2004 when I had a mortar land on the opposite side of a small barrier I was hunkered behind. Instead of flying rocks/debris and being half deaf from the impact, I had flying sand and rain from 40-50 mile an hour winds (a guess...I don't carry weather measuring gear) and thunderous lightning working my senses over. I've been on ridge tops during mountain storms, and this actually scared me more as it was so fast and caught me completely off guard. Thankfully storms like this usually move pretty fast. As the sky began to clear in the west, I noticed this rainbow forming, so I hauled ass up onto the dune I was planning on shooting sunset, aimed east, and took this. That is Steamboat Mountain below the rainbow, left center for anyone familiar with the area. I was roughly 1.5 to 2 miles into the middle of this particular WSA. It's not very big as it is broken up by large transmission lines (to the east) and an old rail (to the west).
Single exposure at 16mm, ISO 100, f/18, 1/40th of a second. The fuzzy area in the bottom right off the front dune edge is blowing sand...even after all the rain, sand was still blowing...go figure.
Thanks for any input, positive or negative. It's the best way to learn. Cheers!
Comments
32 commentsThanks Anand. It's not terribly hard to find lines in sand dunes...from what little I have seen of them that is. Got lucky with the rainbow.
Did not have much choice Tony as there was nowhere to run. Doing so would have probably made me nature's bitch via lightning bolt. ;]
Glad you guys like the photo though. Anything need more work? Thank you.
BTW, some may not, but I love the stories! Gives me a sense of being there.
Rob, funny thing about what you said. Just before leaving on this short trip (our backpack trip was cancelled due to weather (or lack there of) and my own laziness) I watched a Universe episode that had a detailed portion given over to rainbows. I found it amazing that rainbows can only be viewed between 40-42 degrees in relation of the viewer to the light that is refracting in the water molecules. To top that off, sometimes the light refracts twice, creating the reverse double rainbow (barely seen here in spots) where the colors of the spectrum are actually reversed...which is 53 degrees in relation to the viewer and light. I actually gained a greater appreciation for the phenomenon and getting to see one so soon after was awesome. I'll never photograph a rainbow again without thinking about why it is I'm getting to see it. It's also allowed me to better predict the best times of days to see them.
Ed
Chris
aF
Always include the backstory if there is one. Especially when the prosaic words are accompanied by such a fine dramatic image. I want to know how you felt, how you overcame adversity which always seems to be a part of the field. It increases the appreciation of the images for me at least. Even Ian's strung out nature induced or inspired dreamscapes.
Paul
Aaron, the foreground was pretty close...not sure how close on this one. I probably could have gotten away with a lower aperture, especially since this is sand. Most of my photographs are too close to the ground to achieve complete sharpness to infinity using hyper focal distance though..as of late more than ever. Thank you for the advice though. I will keep it in mind.
Hahah, Paul...during this event I overcame diversity by hunkering down on the balls of my feet with my back and pack to the wind and rain, looking at the brush next to me...thinking..well, now I see why all these plants are growing sideways.... ;]
That sky and rainbow are fantastic, and I love the light!
Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Anyhow, you don't need to sell me on dunes and weather, two of my favorite things!
I like the centered rainbow, very classic. I could probably come up with some nits if i thought very hard, but i don't like to think very hard--it hurts sometimes
This is truly beautiful. No nits at all from me. It sounds like you and 'interesting' day!
--P
Stan, 6 months? I am missing something I think, but glad you like the image.
Thanks all for the comments. Have a couple more to share from this evening that I hope are received well, or at least fixed if I missed something on them.