Salish Sea Rainbow

I was at Sunset Beach December 22 when a light on the horizon caught my eye.

As I drove along West Beach Road, the color grew.

I was at Libbey Beach for the final glimpse before it faded entirely.

Swan Lake Rainbow

I couldn't decide last night whether to chase the rainbow or the sunset. I drove out to Sunset Beach and caught this view looking back east over Swan Lake. I did catch some sunset photos too! 

Sun Dog

This sun dog appeared over the Cascades shortly after sunrise. This photo was taken from the west side of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island.

Double Rainbow

I live about a block from my church so when I received a phone call - there's a double rainbow - I managed to capture these images.  With the wet summer we have been having (nearly an inch of rain in the last three days) this was a welcome surprise.

Double Rainbow

Rain to the east and sun to the west make the perfect combination of amazing beauty.  This is a panorama of four images using the free download, Hugin, to combine them.

The same four images have been combined in Elements here.

Here is a com-bination of four images in Elements from a slightly different location.

This was the second double rainbow I've seen this year.

Double Rainbow

The phone rings.  "Are you out taking pictures of the double rainbow?"  I grab my camera and dash out.  It is pouring rain but to the east...  The lens on my camera won't capture the entire rainbow and I know if I go back to get a different lens, the rainbow might be gone.  I decide to take two shots, capturing each end of the rainbow.  I have to turn my circular polarizer each time.  Another minute and the double rainbow is gone. 
I have combined the two photos in Elements.  You can see there is some distortion.  (No, the top of the rainbow was not pointed!)  But when you only have a few moments, you do the best you can.
To the west?  The source of the light.

Thanks, Lori, for the phone call!

Sun dog rainbow

This sundog rainbow was visible on a recent late afternoon. Caused when light is refracted by ice crystals, this is the longest one I've ever seen.