Both Ends of the Rainbow

I was at the top of Going-To-The-Sun Road, waiting for nightfall. The late afternoon breeze pushed cumulus clouds through the mountain pass, some of them containing excess water. Dark smears drained the rain from them as they proceeded down the valley, eventually to evaporate entirely. The mist that was left behind refracted the low angle sunlight into a double rainbow. From my vantage point, the rainbow was complete, its ends striking each side of the valley making a perfect arch.

I was amazed at this. Catching sight of even a partial rainbow is a rare treat for me, but to see one this large was a life treasure! Many people in my position would stand and savor the view; my response was to take its picture.

It exceeded a normal viewfinder (a rainbow is 84 degrees across!) and with the widest angle lens I possessed it just barely fit in the frame. The picture captures the abrupt eerie change in lighting from inside to outside the rainbow. I was elated to have been at the right place at the right time.