This Morning's Donner Lake Rainbow!

I could tell this morning that it was "rainbow weather". So I was keeping an eye on the sky, and wouldn't you know, I saw one! It was an incredibly bright and vibrant rainbow, I happen to be driving along Donner Lake, here in Truckee, California when it popped out. As usual, I had my camera with me so I pulled over, slapped a polarizing filter on the front of my lens, ran out to the shore, and started shooting. I ran because experience has taught me that rainbows can disappear fast. I've seen them before, got all set up, only to have them fade away right before I start clicking.

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Shot with a Canon R5 MarkII and a 24-105mm lens. ISO 400, the lens aperture was f/13, and the shutter speed was 1/200 of a second. Again, a polarizing filter was on the front of the lens. They help bring out the color a bit more in rainbows. But be careful with them, they can also make rainbows disappear if the polarizer is not adjusted properly. Handheld shot, I was rushing and didn't grab the tripod or have time to set it up.

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As always, prints and photo products available on my website www.TruckeeTahoePhotos.com.

Thank you for looking, and I hope you all have a beautiful day out there!

Scott Thompson
Scott Shots Photography
www.TruckeeTahoePhotos.com - Art
Scott Shots Photography - Services

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13 comments
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The filter did help so much with the colours of the rainbow.
Great shot. Such an interesting sky and cloud coverage.
Have a wonderful new week!
!HUG

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Polarizers do indeed help with rainbows! However, this was a particularly vibrant rainbow to begin with. Thank you, and have a great week too!

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I should use them more… I know. Hahaha somehow I just go out and about without most of the time.
Some are very vibrant. Luckily you captured this bright one.
You are welcome, thanks a lot.

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I ran because experience has taught me that rainbows can disappear fast. I've seen them before, got all set up, only to have them fade away right before I start clicking.

I read it and I was amused by these words. 😀😅😂

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Yeah. It's not amusing when it happens.... 🙃

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This view is our favorite view from childhood. Whenever it rained and the sun came out, we used to see this view. There were so many different colors.

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Nice! It's always incredible to see a big rainbow. Extra magical as a kid, for sure. Have a great day!

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The colours in the rainbow is truly amazing! I'm glad you made it in time to take these shots...even though you had to run...lol! I could actually picture the scene in my mind as you described it😅! But it was worth it!!

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Lol! Yup. It's a good thing I'm in decent shape these days. It's good for my body, and my photography :)

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Really nice capture 👍 snowing here today 🙄 not much and its not really sticking but come on already lets do Spring

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Thank you, and DOH! Yes, this has been the never-ending winter here too, but it's finally shifting to spring lately!

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