Meredith Bain
April 2026 - Under the Rainbow
Original
About the Image(s)
This image is a panoramic composite of four images made one morning when the weather was changeable. Blue sky, sunshine and dark, cloudy sky divided by a rainbow with a wetland in the foreground. I took four images with my camera in portrait orientation, overlapping each image 30-50%.
I used Lightroom to merge the images into a panorama (Lightroom makes this easy) and edited from there. Editing included cropping, enhancing colours, contrast and brightness by using the Tone Curve in Lightroom. I also adjusted black and white points. From there I moved the image to Photoshop and removed distractions using the Remove Tool.
Fujifilm X-T4, 10-24mm lens @ 24mm ISO 160, SS 1/125, tripod, geared head.
6 comments posted
Hi Meredith,
I looked and looked and thought about this image. I think the rainbow is wonderful, and I like the panorama effect. I do think the bushes/brush at water's edge are way too bright and distract from the rainbow, which is what you wanted us to focus on, right? So I would do a layer mask and lower the brightness of those, or maybe you could do it in Lightroom before going into Photoshop. I wonder how you would like it if you cropped up to the shrubs ? Make it even more panoramic? Then saturate the rainbow even more... Just some ideas. Posted: 04/11/2026 07:52:46
I looked and looked and thought about this image. I think the rainbow is wonderful, and I like the panorama effect. I do think the bushes/brush at water's edge are way too bright and distract from the rainbow, which is what you wanted us to focus on, right? So I would do a layer mask and lower the brightness of those, or maybe you could do it in Lightroom before going into Photoshop. I wonder how you would like it if you cropped up to the shrubs ? Make it even more panoramic? Then saturate the rainbow even more... Just some ideas. Posted: 04/11/2026 07:52:46
Meredith, I really like the composition and colors in your image. The colors of the vegetation, the rainbow and the reflections just bring it all together. Seems like you have this place to go to for an afternoon rainbow. That's so handy. The inlet just brings my eyes so gently to the back of the image. However, I can only find a little nit and that on the left bank about half way there is a white area that could stand some reduction in highlights. Posted: 04/12/2026 03:51:57
Hi Meredith. This is a lovely composite. I prefer the softness of the original. I started to see some white clipping in the posted image, at the grass on the right and a bit from the rainbow. I suggest reducing the overall contrast a bit. I am curious why you have to remove the distracting vegetation in PS if that can be done in LR. Posted: 04/13/2026 02:16:26
Thank you for your comments Frans. In answer to your question regarding removal in Ps - I find it delivers a better result than Lr. I know that Lr is becoming ever more powerful and I use it for most of my processing but PS Removal Tool seems to me to be more accurate. Posted: 04/13/2026 06:17:20
Meredith. You are absolutely right. Ps is far more accurate than Lr for removal and masking tool. Posted: 04/13/2026 12:02:46
Hi Meredith, I like the choice you made to brighten the foliage. I feel like you did lose a bit of the rainbow when lightening the sky, but I like that I was now noticing the curve of the foreground with the curve of the rainbow. I like the different lines of color in the foliage that draws your eyes back and forth, left to right, to view the whole image. I appreciate you removing the distractions that you chose. I am a bit distracted by an "L" shape that I see in the clouds, but I find overall your image very pleasing. Posted: 04/14/2026 05:15:55