Sabine Nehls, QPSA, EFIAP
November 2025 - Double Rainbow
About the Image(s)
Sometimes you're just lucky!
Right at the beginning of my vacation on the North Sea coast, I was able to photograph this natural phenomenon. I was standing on the other side of the harbor basin, wanting to capture the ships in the light. The weather was changeable. Sun, rain, and wind had created fantastic lighting conditions all morning. Suddenly, this double rainbow appeared in the sky. The foreground was perfect, the camera settings were spot on, and my vantage point was ideal. With the Canon 24-105, I was able to capture the entire rainbow.
After admiring this spectacle, I started taking photos.
EOS 6DMark II, 1/200 sec., f/11, ISO 100
12 comments posted
Hi Sabine,
What a spectacular capture! You've truly seized a magical moment here.
What works beautifully:
The composition is excellent-that classic two-thirds sky to one-third foreground ratio really emphasizes the grandeur of the double rainbow while keeping the harbor scene grounded and purposeful. The fishing boats serve as perfect anchor points, giving the eye a place to rest and providing wonderful scale to the natural phenomenon above.
The lighting is exceptional. Those dramatic storm clouds create rich, moody tones that make the rainbow's colors absolutely pop. The contrast between the dark, brooding sky and the illuminated band of color is striking. You can really feel the changeable weather conditions-that volatile mix of sun, rain, and wind that creates these rare opportunities.
Your vantage point across the harbor basin was ideal. The spacing of the boats, the wooden posts marching across the green field, and the village houses in the middle distance all create lovely leading lines and depth that draw the viewer into this spectacular scene.
This is truly a "sometimes you're just lucky" moment expertly executed. Well done! Posted: 11/10/2025 12:23:55
What a spectacular capture! You've truly seized a magical moment here.
What works beautifully:
The composition is excellent-that classic two-thirds sky to one-third foreground ratio really emphasizes the grandeur of the double rainbow while keeping the harbor scene grounded and purposeful. The fishing boats serve as perfect anchor points, giving the eye a place to rest and providing wonderful scale to the natural phenomenon above.
The lighting is exceptional. Those dramatic storm clouds create rich, moody tones that make the rainbow's colors absolutely pop. The contrast between the dark, brooding sky and the illuminated band of color is striking. You can really feel the changeable weather conditions-that volatile mix of sun, rain, and wind that creates these rare opportunities.
Your vantage point across the harbor basin was ideal. The spacing of the boats, the wooden posts marching across the green field, and the village houses in the middle distance all create lovely leading lines and depth that draw the viewer into this spectacular scene.
This is truly a "sometimes you're just lucky" moment expertly executed. Well done! Posted: 11/10/2025 12:23:55
Linda, Thank you very much for your detailed description. I never tire of looking at this photo and am also grateful that I was simply lucky. It's a moment that will remain in my memory. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:39:09
Sabine, this is a fantastic shot!
I don't know if you are lucky, or smart, to be at the right spot at the right time! Beautifully composed with the boats on the left Posted: 11/11/2025 15:32:34
I don't know if you are lucky, or smart, to be at the right spot at the right time! Beautifully composed with the boats on the left Posted: 11/11/2025 15:32:34
Thank you for your comments, Sylvia.
Fortunately, the ships were still there; two days later, the harbor was empty. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:43:09
Fortunately, the ships were still there; two days later, the harbor was empty. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:43:09
Sabine, what a great capture! There is something to be said of being in the right place at the right time. And, on top of that, you had the skills to capture this image beautifully. I really like the way the light is hitting the boats in the foreground contrasting against the dark clouds in the background. The double rainbow really adds a lot to the image. Well done! Posted: 11/15/2025 00:14:49
Randy, I've seen quite a few rainbows. But mostly over the rooftops of my city, which isn't worth photographing.
This time, everything was just right. Thank you for your kind words. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:47:12
This time, everything was just right. Thank you for your kind words. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:47:12
Sabine, Wow! First glance of Double Rainbow gave me an ominous feeling. Then it spoke of brightness after the storm. Rainbows symbolize hope, faith and new beginnings. And you've got two rainbows!!
The blue gray tones of the boat and sky enhance the rainbows' colors. The curve of the boats base duplicate the rainbows' shape which frames the image. The triangle roofs add interest to the background. Interesting photo! Posted: 11/15/2025 16:03:15
The blue gray tones of the boat and sky enhance the rainbows' colors. The curve of the boats base duplicate the rainbows' shape which frames the image. The triangle roofs add interest to the background. Interesting photo! Posted: 11/15/2025 16:03:15
I've never really thought about the meaning of a rainbow. What you've written about it has got me thinking. Thank you for that, Yvonne. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:50:59
Sabine, this is a fantastic and interesting photo. Everything across the image is very sharp and full of color. The two fishing boats with so much detail in the calm water really add to this story to me. Great contrast between the dark sky and the land, water and boats and the two rainbows frame this image nicely. Great image. Posted: 11/16/2025 17:23:35
Jim, You're right, without the fishing boats the picture wouldn't be as interesting.
Two days later, the season ended and the boats disappeared. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:55:12
Two days later, the season ended and the boats disappeared. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:55:12
It is an incredibly lucky and well-timed shot!
My only edits were to remove the orange construction equipment at the far right and the white car next to the boat on the left.
Posted: 11/17/2025 13:33:59
My only edits were to remove the orange construction equipment at the far right and the white car next to the boat on the left.
Posted: 11/17/2025 13:33:59
You're absolutely right, Doug, those two elements are distracting. Thank you for your suggestion for improvement. Posted: 11/18/2025 13:59:16