5DMKII + 16-35mm, 1/5000 at f/3.5, ISO 200 + Photomatix HDR processing.
I'm always chasing rainbows. Any time I see rain clouds part and a burst of sun stream through I think, "there is a rainbow somewhere!" Fight or flight kicks in, I grab my camera, and I race against the clock to grab the perfect shot.
I was in my living room when I see the thick thunderclouds break with a bolt of sun and I instantly lunge for my camera (which of course has no memory card in it). Gah! I frantically search my apartment and find one... that is completely full. Arg. I delete some photos and dash out of my apartment towards the elevator.
After a few agonizing minutes it arrives and I head up to the sky deck. I open the door and BAM -- the most vibrant double rainbow I've ever seen. It's still pouring out and I'm getting drenched, but I have the biggest smile on my face. This shot is perfect. I turn on my camera, look through my 24-70mm lens and realize, with utter dread, that this lens isn't wide enough to get the whole rainbow in the shot. I'm gutted. I feel the floor cave in while my perfect shot is slipping away. I pout. Maybe swear a little. I reach for my iPhone and I grab a few shots. They are cool, but I need my 16-35mm. I decide that I can't give up and book it to the elevator. As I'm heading down again, my stomach is literally sinking. I know the rainbow is fading. I get off the elevator and run to my apartment.
I turn the key in the lock and it doesn't work. Wrong key? I try a different one. Wrong FLOOR. Ahh!! At this point I nearly lose it. The elevator is taking ages to arrive again. Each second that passes, I feel my dream photo vanish. I finally get back to my apartment, grab my 16-35mm and head back up. I burst through the sky deck door and start shooting furiously. The rainbow is fading rapidly, but I manage to catch it's last few breaths before it dies.
Angeliska, bryanjzimmerman, MΩHΔMMΣD ΔL SΔLLΩΩM, DARRIN J. OAKLEY, and 89 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 19 more comments
Jared Ropelato 22 months ago
amazingly cool. Great shot Lisa
wei1881 TAIWAN busy.. 22 months ago
Great image
Nick Keating 22 months ago
So awesome! Nice one Lisa!!
photos and tea 22 months ago
Now that's tenacity! It was worth every heart-pounding moment. Great work!
bishii 22 months ago
Awesome!!!
Walter Lustig 22 months ago
Looks almost unreal but I guess we trust you ;-)
The T-Man 22 months ago
That pops like a pop up card! Nice work.
BYČKO 22 months ago
Krása............je to jako fantazie................
Lekke 22 months ago
Can't believe no one posted a link to Double Rainbow yet
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI
TheRedDragon 22 months ago
Incredible Photo... nice work.
Dene' Miles 22 months ago
Omg Lisa so glad you got your dream shot. This is just too good :)
macbooknovice 22 months ago
Whoa!!! Nice.
ardy_hadinata 22 months ago
amazing view, vivid color!
220495 22 months ago
wow
Helen M. Lewis 22 months ago
Well, Lisa, it was definitely worth all the anxiety and effort. It's a beautiful shot!
dreamer@desh 22 months ago
Excellent, i like it!
Morgan Imaging Studio 22 months ago
your capture is very nice, but I think I enjoy your tale of effort more.
AEBEX 22 months ago
You mentioned taking the picture on the G+ hangout with Trey this evening. Wonderful shot Lisa. Did you run this through any HDR processing? Either way great shot.
EvanLovely 22 months ago
Great shot. Wonderful story :)
niedu 22 months ago
Great! Never seen this before! :)