Arching Rainbow and Reflection

August 15, 2017

Circular_Rainbow_GS_20170624_Rainbow_1112_Pan_v2 (3)

Photographer: Göran Strand
Summary Author: Göran Strand

August 2017 Viewer's ChoiceRainbows are always opposite the Sun, centered below the horizon at the antisolar point. The lower the Sun's position in the sky, the higher the rainbow arches. I took the above photo from Vansbro, Sweden, at sunset. Together with its reflection on the water in the foreground, it forms a complete circle. However, had the Sun been any higher in the sky, the shape (of the primary bow and its reflection) would have been somewhat out of round or slightly elliptical. Photo taken on June 24, 2017.

Photo Details: A 6-shot mosaic made with a Nikon D800E camera; Nikon AF-S, 14-24mm, f/2.8 lens.