Anyone ever seen one of these before? This is a view of the third tallest waterfall in Arkansas this morning, Hedges Pouroff. The heavy rains quit just for a moment and sunshine swept across the wilderness. From where I was standing I could not even see this rainbow, but I had the camera perched way out on the cliff where I dare not go so that it could look over the edge and see the falls. I was headed down to photograph the little stone spring house with all the whitewater around it after four-five inches of rain overnight but gut stuck up on top of Cave Mountain where a big culvert was washed out - so I parked there and hiked down to this view just in time for the sun to appear - very weird (or perhaps not, but I've never seen one like this before)...
Posted by Tim Buchanan on April 10, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Very interesting! Love the picture too.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on April 10, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Right place, right time .... "chance favors the prepared mind"! Very interesting and unusual rainbow Tim.
You'll see this phenomenon quite frequently with waterfalls where there's lots of spray and exposure to the sun. Just check out the larger waterfalls around the globe like Niagra, Angel, etc. You know that! ;)
Now, though, you have an even stronger reason to get to this fall (and others?) on a sunny day! This image would look really great if the trees were greener...
Hum, I've been to some of the largest waterfalls in the US (Yosemite) and never saw this there - they all had the normal kind like everywhere else. Don't recall seeing them in photos of Niagra or Angel either - just the normal kind. Guess I'll have to look a little closer, or turn my head sideways.
"You'll see this phenomenon quite frequently with waterfalls where there's lots of spray and exposure to the sun." Hum, isn't that what it takes for any rainbow to appear, ey?
I did actually see one similar when I was at Compton Falls. It didn't appear next to the main falls, but near the little trickle waterfall to the right. It wasn't as parallel to the water as this, but close. I was hoping that as the sun angle got lower, it might make the rainbow a little more pronounced. That's when a few clouds started rolling in, of course.
Posted by Tim Buchanan on April 10, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Wikipedia has some interesting info about rainbows. It mentions that if the sun is higher than 42 degrees then you can only see the rainbow from a plane or above a waterfall!
I just spent an hour photographing another waterfall that had a double rainbow - got literally blown off of my feet twice trying to keep the tripod steady - man the gusts out here this afternoon are pretty high. Went through three packs of tissue paper too (for the lens, not because I was crying over my spilled camera) - the spray was pretty bad. But I got a few photos I think of what is now officially "Rainbow Falls," and it is located just off of Cave Mtn. Road just below some land we bought last year - it is in the park service side of the upper buffalo wilderness are. It will probably be next week before I can process any photos, but hope to have at least one in the Journal...
Wow, it sounds like I struck a nerve, Tim - sorry.
If you'll go to images.google.com and type in "waterfall rainbow," there'll be some results...
Tim
Posted by Glenn Carter on April 12, 2008 at 7:37 AM
TIm,
Nice image. I agree, this will make a better shot when it is all green. I do know from experience that you've gotta watch them cliff edges. Seems that the winds are high and dangerous there. Mt Magazine about got me a few months ago.
<<If you'll go to images.google.com and type in "waterfall rainbow," there'll be some results... >>
Hum, I did what you said and never saw any that were vertical - but I don't have the time to go through the entire list so perhaps there are some, I have just never seen one, even after having shot hundreds of them over the years - all were just the normal ones like you see when you google waterfall rainbow (actually there was one that was a little more up and down than the rest but none that were vertical). No striking nerves here, I was just curious if anyone had ever seen one before, and so far no one I know has...
Yup, they got the big culvert replaced and you can scream across Cave Mtn. Road once again at a full 10mph! The water has run down to normal flow levels once again - we need some rain...
Discussion
11 repliesYou'll see this phenomenon quite frequently with waterfalls where there's lots of spray and exposure to the sun. Just check out the larger waterfalls around the globe like Niagra, Angel, etc. You know that! ;)
Now, though, you have an even stronger reason to get to this fall (and others?) on a sunny day! This image would look really great if the trees were greener...
Good luck,
Tim!
"You'll see this phenomenon quite frequently with waterfalls where there's lots of spray and exposure to the sun." Hum, isn't that what it takes for any rainbow to appear, ey?
If you'll go to images.google.com and type in "waterfall rainbow," there'll be some results...
Tim
Nice image. I agree, this will make a better shot when it is all green. I do know from experience that you've gotta watch them cliff edges. Seems that the winds are high and dangerous there. Mt Magazine about got me a few months ago.
Is Cave Mountain road passable again?
Glenn
Hum, I did what you said and never saw any that were vertical - but I don't have the time to go through the entire list so perhaps there are some, I have just never seen one, even after having shot hundreds of them over the years - all were just the normal ones like you see when you google waterfall rainbow (actually there was one that was a little more up and down than the rest but none that were vertical). No striking nerves here, I was just curious if anyone had ever seen one before, and so far no one I know has...
Yup, they got the big culvert replaced and you can scream across Cave Mtn. Road once again at a full 10mph! The water has run down to normal flow levels once again - we need some rain...