How to Photograph Rainbows
- 1). Fill your camera bag with necessary supplies. Pack a polarizing filter. Using a polarizing filter while photographing rainbows will enhance the colors of the rainbow and make the sky look more dramatic. Include a wide angle lens for rainbows that span the skyline. Pack a telephoto lens for rainbows viewed at a distance. A telephoto lens will allow you to zoom in and make the colors of the rainbow the focus of the image.
- 2). Watch the weather reports. Spring showers and summer rains often are followed by a rainbow. If the weather report says the rain will be brief, followed by sunny skies, get ready to go out and scout out the rainbows. Be ready to work quickly, since rainbows don't last long.
- 3). Find a vantage point with a clear view. Try to get up high on a hill or lookout and find a scenic spot to capture your rainbow. Look at the scene around you. Avoid power lines and distracting buildings. If you are near buildings of historical significance, try to put them in the fore ground.
- 4). Experiment with your exposure while photographing the rainbow. Underexpose the scene to make the colors of the rainbow more brilliant. Adjust your film speed equivalent on a digital camera, or use a variety of film speeds with a film camera. A slower speed, such as ISO 100 or 200 will give you a crisp image. A faster speed, such as ISO 800 or 1600 will give your rainbow image a grainy, painterly look.
- 5). Shoot a lot of frames when photographing a rainbow. Since there isn't much time to photograph a rainbow, try lots of things, and edit through your photos later. Shoot wide, zoom in, frame the rainbow a variety of ways and experiment. Include the ground in some frames, and in some, zoom in to just the sky and rainbow.
