My Heart Leaps Up When I Behold a Rainbow In the Sky — Wordsworth

May 1, 2009 1:33 PM

It's always great excitement to see a rainbow. If you're lucky enough to have your camera with you, even better. But there's more to it than just being in the right place at the right time. How to Photograph a Rainbow gives us some pointers so our pictures can look like these. As a last resort, if you have a great photo opportunity but no rainbow: Add A Realistic Rainbow To A Photo In Photoshop.
posted by netbros (24 comments total)

I met a young girl. She gave me a rainbow.
posted by JBennett at 1:38 PM on May 1

I saw a rainbow halo around the sun once during a kind of low-speed snow storm. it was a perfect circle. Unfortunately, you had to stare at the sun to see it.

As for photoshop rainbows, no.
posted by GuyZero at 1:52 PM on May 1

I sent a note to the mods about the possible trojan. Thanks for the heads up.
posted by netbros at 1:59 PM on May 1

Why are there so many posts about rainbows?
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:06 PM on May 1 [1 favorite has favorites]

How to Fuck a Rainbow.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 2:08 PM on May 1

Because rainbows have nothing to hide, Astro Zombie.
posted by rokusan at 2:09 PM on May 1

Anyone who wants to add a double rainbow in Photoshop may want to know that a real double rainbow has the color order of the outer 'bow reversed. You know, if you're into verisimilitude.
posted by squarehead at 2:12 PM on May 1

How to Fuck a Rainbow.

GuyZero's story is promising, on this front.
posted by SpiffyRob at 2:14 PM on May 1

I wish photoshop tutorials would just blurt out the key steps in a sentence or three right up front, and then go on to explain the steps.

Then you could go, 'Okay, he screens a blurred gradient; I get it.' without reading every page.
posted by jfrancis at 2:18 PM on May 1 [3 favorites has favorites]

wish photoshop tutorials would just blurt out the key steps in a sentence or three right up front, and then go on to explain the steps.

Then you could go, 'Okay, he screens a blurred gradient; I get it.' without reading every page.

Yeah, that's always bothered me. You should check out my Cracked.com list of The Top Eight Photoshop Tutorial Pet Peeves, spread out over 32 pages.
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 2:21 PM on May 1 [1 favorite has favorites]

all the rainbow i need!
posted by Foci for Analysis at 2:36 PM on May 1

NOW THE NEW PHENOMENA IS RAINBOW'S NEAR THE GROUND
posted by Captain Cardanthian! at 2:44 PM on May 1

I followed the tutorial to add a rainbow to Eddie Adams' famous Tet Offensive assassination photo. It doesn't work so well if the original is black and white, but it cheered it up a bit. Then I got bored and closed it without saving.
posted by Mayor Curley at 2:46 PM on May 1

Idea for someone who's more patient-- rainbow from the goatse guy's butt.
posted by Mayor Curley at 2:48 PM on May 1

Seems like I've always got a damn rainbow sticking out o' me lucky arse.
posted by Pot at 2:48 PM on May 1

Idea for someone who's more patient-- rainbow from the goatse guy's butt.

I think Obama is actually asking for versions of that image as a baseline requirement for all potential Court nominees.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 3:21 PM on May 1

"While it’s not always possible to change the background - you might find that you’re able to change the angle that you’re shooting from..."

I don't think it works that way.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:55 PM on May 1

The picture of a rainbow from above, taken by a helicopter, was very unusual. Thanks.
posted by metastability at 4:03 PM on May 1

As far as finding a rainbow goes, my understanding is -

If you see bright sunshine while rain is falling, turn your back to the sun and look for a rainbow there.
posted by jfrancis at 4:40 PM on May 1

Call it what ye wish but the blogosphere is always after me Lucky Charms.
posted by crapmatic at 4:54 PM on May 1

This is really gonna help people who need to document the presence of hazardous chemicals in their water.
posted by orme at 5:02 PM on May 1

NICE BUT NOT ENOUGH UNICORNS!
posted by uandt at 5:51 PM on May 1

That rainbow photoshop trick sure is neat!
posted by [expletive deleted] at 8:07 PM on May 1 [2 favorites has favorites]

If you want to see and I guess photograph a lot of rainbows go to Ireland. It sounds so trite, but when I was there I saw one like every other day. Something about the weather. We did get rained on an awful lot, but when you see a rainbow after the rain clears it kind of makes it OK.
posted by caddis at 8:22 PM on May 1