Double Fantasy

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 31, 20101,509 views55 comments

By the moderators request, I'll share a unique experience and thrill from a recent visit to Monument Valley, Utah. I made this image from our camp on the edge of a low mesa facing the formations. The sunrise was already spectacular, throwing it's deep light on the valley, and suddenly, this rainbow simply appeared in the mist. It was a full 180 degree double, and opposite the sunrise, so I had both going on at once. So many choices, so little time... It lasted about 15 minutes and then I began to breath normally again. I may never see that again in my life.

Canon 1DsIII, Zeiss 35 ZE

Comments

55 comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 31, 2010 at 11:51 AM

What an incredible sight! The light is just spectacular, and the comp is well thought out, even though you didn't have a lot of time. Great job Jeffrey. I hope you got a lot of images with some different comps too.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on August 31, 2010 at 12:02 PM

Unique indeed. Totally awesome photo Jeffrey.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on August 31, 2010 at 12:18 PM

Luck comes to the prepared... Congratulations on a marvelous moment captured well.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on August 31, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Very compelling photo, Jeffrey. I don't make landscapes but I can spot a good one and this is one such in my eyes. Stunningly Stunning

Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments

Comment posted by Jack Brauer on August 31, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Holy... wow. You're right... a once in a lifetime photo! Congrats!

Registered on September 12, 2005, 40 Posts, 627 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on August 31, 2010 at 12:29 PM

Simply gorgeous scene. Very well composed Jeffrey.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on August 31, 2010 at 12:43 PM

Congrats Jeffrey - a spectacular image for sure. Great job handling the composition and processing. Awesome!

Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on August 31, 2010 at 12:59 PM

Wowzers! This is insane.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Richins on August 31, 2010 at 1:17 PM

Awesome. That's just awesome light and color. I don't know if it's an illusion but appears there's a slight CCW tilt to it. Otherwise, this is sweet.

Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on August 31, 2010 at 1:22 PM

Truely outstanding. This is great, Jeffrey.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Bartsch on August 31, 2010 at 1:27 PM

Double rainbow... what does it mean?? hehe

Beautiful scene, great mood. Nice capture Jeffrey.

Registered on December 1, 2003, 80 Posts, 354 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on August 31, 2010 at 2:16 PM

Wow
excellent work

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on August 31, 2010 at 2:18 PM

WOW!!!!!

Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on August 31, 2010 at 2:21 PM

I'm speechless. Spectacular image Jeffrey!

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on August 31, 2010 at 2:28 PM

Fabuloso image! Really something unique here... Cant wait to see more

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Alberto Segramora on August 31, 2010 at 3:08 PM

Stunning image and light!!

Incredible moment!

Registered on August 31, 2010, 0 Posts, 2 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on August 31, 2010 at 3:33 PM

Wow!!! this is really spectacular.

The photography Gods were certainly smiling on you that day. My only thought is to print this one HUGE!!

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on August 31, 2010 at 4:11 PM

Wow !! this is awesome - really once in a lifetime shot.

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on August 31, 2010 at 4:16 PM

Whew, boy!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on August 31, 2010 at 4:22 PM

incredible

Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 31, 2010 at 5:08 PM

This is biblical.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on August 31, 2010 at 5:16 PM

Fantastic!

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Good on August 31, 2010 at 5:44 PM

Most would be inclined to try to capture the full double-bow, but those buttes would be rendered so small in doing so. I think you do a great job of capturing all the main elements here without sacrificing anything. Beautiful work!

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 31, 2010 at 6:09 PM

Thanks for posting Jefferey so more folks could sit and enjoy and absorb this phenomenal moment. No doubt a once-in-a-lifetime capture and I'm happy for you that you got to both witness this and capture it.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on August 31, 2010 at 6:11 PM

I said WOW!! before hitting the thumbnail.

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on August 31, 2010 at 6:29 PM

Amazing....I'm so glad you were ready to capture it!!

Registered on October 4, 2008, 28 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 31, 2010 at 6:47 PM

Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime combo of being in the right place for that scenery and that rainbow. Beautiful!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on August 31, 2010 at 8:29 PM

Lovely, Jeffrey! Great light and a double rainbow thrown in.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 31, 2010 at 8:30 PM

Man, does this ever have impact! I think there was an audible "POW" when this opened.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on August 31, 2010 at 8:50 PM

wow, that's intense! All the way? I hope you had some of the good stuff with you fully appreciate it..

Seriously though, what a fortunate place to be at that time! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Peterson on August 31, 2010 at 9:14 PM

This is one of those shots that we photographers dream of...it doesn't get much better than this. Excellent!

Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 31, 2010 at 9:37 PM

Amazing scene Jeffery! Definately a once in a life-time event. Beautiful capture.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on August 31, 2010 at 9:41 PM

Jeffery.

A fortunate moment indeed for you and for the rest of us to at lease see it. I am sure it will an unforgettable experience for you and one that you can relive over and over with this stunning photo.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on August 31, 2010 at 11:35 PM

Stunning photograph!

Congratulations.

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 31, 2010 at 11:43 PM

Incredible! Perhaps the best Mon Valley shot ever!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Sullivan on September 1, 2010 at 1:10 AM

I agree with Tony. Be sure to copyright the original file and all derivatives. This shot could bring you good fortune. I would definitely approach OP for cover interest.

Registered on May 2, 2006, 55 Posts, 137 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Creel on September 1, 2010 at 1:23 AM

It's a full-on, double rainbow, all the way across the sky!

Seriously though, it's a beautiful shot and what an experience it must have been to see it in person.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 104 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 1, 2010 at 1:43 AM

An incredible sight for sure and one that has been rendered perfectly in this photograph.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on September 1, 2010 at 4:08 AM

gorgeous warm light, topped off by the formations and the rainbows. right spot, right time!

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on September 1, 2010 at 9:51 AM

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Comment posted by Martin Bartsch on September 1, 2010 at 1:06 PM

Double rainbow... what does it mean?? hehe

Beautiful scene, great mood. Nice capture Jeffrey.

Registered on December 1, 2003, 80 Posts, 354 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on September 1, 2010 at 1:08 PM

A nice setting for a cool rainbow. Wunderbar. Were you able to capture the entire 180 degrees in a pano?

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Haskell on September 1, 2010 at 4:30 PM

W man!

Ian

Registered on October 30, 2008, 24 Posts, 673 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 1, 2010 at 7:21 PM

Sweeeeet!! I hate to stand out by offering a critique, but IMHO, this killer shot would be even more killer if you reduced the vibrance somewhat (while maintaining or increasing the sat) The one very minor problem i see with this shot is that the rainbow gets 'absorbed' by the sky, whereas i think this would be even (more) killer if you could see the bow more distinctly. Check the RAW default--if it's more distinct in the RAW, it should be here. If it's not---then maybe you can ignore my advice.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on September 1, 2010 at 10:36 PM

Jefferey,

Ditto,Ditto Ditto..... The rush that occurred after you captured this must have been an overload of dopamine and adrenaline......

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on September 1, 2010 at 10:54 PM

Thanks, everyone.

Stan, Yes, the rainbow WAS being absorbed by the mist and swirling moisture all around it, which are the elements that produce it. In places it appears the mist was hanging on to the rainbow or altered by it, but it was just an illusion created by the illumination of the rainbow. Most all rainbows seem to have more light inside them and darker above. They are simply magical.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 2, 2010 at 12:54 AM

So does that mean you're gonna ignore my advice?

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on September 2, 2010 at 1:03 AM

Absolutely amazing, Jeffrey. Thank you for sharing this incredible moment with us.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 2, 2010 at 2:18 PM

Right place right time rewarded well.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on September 2, 2010 at 9:08 PM

Wow. Awesome scene.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on September 3, 2010 at 12:58 PM

Holy crap! I save that quote for the good ones! Excellent.

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 3, 2010 at 6:45 PM

This is awesome!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 7, 2010 at 6:35 PM

Congratulations on this image as well as the recent EP selection for this weeks ES&S category, Jeffrey.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 7, 2010 at 10:43 PM

Spectacular!
Words escape me...
Congrats on the exceptional EP - this will surely be in the running for the Image of the Year..

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Edward Nunez on October 17, 2010 at 11:28 PM

Really Spectacular!!

Registered on April 19, 2007, 65 Posts, 711 Comments