Ever looked at a rainbow photo and thought, “This doesn’t look ANYTHING like what I saw?” You’re not alone – and today, I’m going teach you a technique that’ll transform your landscape photography forever.
Most photographers don’t realize this, but capturing a rainbow isn’t just about being in the right place. It’s about understanding the PHYSICS of light and color. And spoiler alert: your camera is basically lying to you about how rainbows actually look.
The Nerdy (But Critical) Science Behind Rainbow Colors
Here’s what most people don’t know: When you see a rainbow, your eyes perceive ROY G BIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet) perfectly. But cameras? They’re a total mess. Those vibrant colors can get washed out or weirdly distorted depending on your white balance.
My Controversial Rainbow Fixing Strategy
When I’m unsatisfied with a rainbow, I do something most photographers would consider heresy: I REMOVE the original rainbow and replace it completely. Why? Because I want viewers to experience the rainbow EXACTLY as I saw it on location.
In my latest YouTube tutorial, I break down a step-by-step Photoshop technique that lets you:
• Identify color distortion in your rainbow
• Remove the existing rainbow
• Replace it with a scientifically accurate color spectrum
• Blend it seamlessly into your landscape
Bonus: Free Rainbow Replacement Files
After I posted this video, an interesting comment came in, and I had to make a reaction video. You’ll also find that video in the video slider below.
For Blake, it's all about the art and process synergy. He dives deep into complex topics and makes them easy to understand through his outside-the-box thinking so that you can use these tricks in your workflow today!
