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.