Rainbows

Rainbow Competition

Courtesy of the late Jim Normington a competition has been launched, open to everybody, to photograph a rainbow from within the park. We are now approaching the showery season when there are more to be seen.

A qualifying condition is that an easily identifiable section of the park has to be a part of the photograph in such a way to make it certain that the photograph was taken from within the park (in other words, don’t just point the camera at the sky so that nothing else is included). The prize, a £20 book token, will be awarded for the first such qualifying photograph taken. To claim this prize the photographer must inform, and send the original photograph, to either of these email addresses: webmaster@fokp.org or magazine@fokp.org. For film or if you have no email, please telephone and we will make arrangements to view (and verify).

Competition rules:

- Taken from within the park (not outside, even though the park is visible on the photograph);

- A positively identifiable part of the park must be in the photograph;

- It actually has to be a rainbow, caused by rain. Any cloud effect caused by ice is not qualifying (sundogs, arcs, rays pillars etc). Similarly, ‘rainbows’ caused by water sprays are also non-qualifying;

- Any type of camera can be used, film, mobile, digital etc. (however, please see the ‘Reasonable’ rule below);

- The original photograph must be submitted for verification (see the ‘Reasonable’ rule below);

- Include the following when sending the photograph: full name, age (if under 18), address, location within park, date and time photograph taken, camera make and model (all personal information will be treated confidentially). Retain original images and negatives;

- The decision of the competition judges is final (in terms of verification and reasonable quality, please see below).

Reasonable: The decision of the competition judges is final (in terms of verification and reasonable quality). To explain this please consider the following.

Quality: This is not so much a photographic competition, where quality would be a serious consideration, but rather a hunt to be the first. However, it would be preferable, especially if we are to publish the photograph, for the quality of the photograph to be as good as possible and certainly above a particular level, as decided by the judges. If the quality is poor, for instance bad focus, exposure, camera shake, etc, then the judges may reluctantly deem it unacceptable and instead consider the next photograph taken.

Verification: To ensure fairness to all, and especially in this age with easy photo editing using computers, we insist on simple verification that the photograph has not been modified in any surreptitious manner (I am loathed to use the word ‘cheating’). For digital images please keep a copy of the original photograph(s), as they contain information which will help verify the time, date and camera settings etc. For film, please keep the original negative.

The photograph above (click to view a larger image) was taken whilst with the late Jim Normington during March 2010, between Jim’s home and the park. This Circumzenithal arc, produced by flat hexagonal ice crystals high up in the atmosphere, would have been seen over a wide area and unusually was visible for over half an hour.

Below are listed some interesting and useful facts on rainbows in general, and may help you in your hunt. Good luck.

Rainbows occur when sunlight shines into a raindrop and is both reflected and refracted back out. The reflection allows us to see the effect, and the refraction splits the white sunlight into separate colours. Sunlight shines in from above and exits back out below but in the opposite direction. Therefore a rainbow is always seen with the Sun behind you, and rain in front of you. Depending on local conditions it may or may not be either raining and/or sunny right where you are, as conditions are local to you on the ground. Clearly showery conditions are preferred as both rain and Sun are required.

Ice effects such as sundogs, arcs, rays pillars etc, with clouds are not qualifying; it has to be an actual rainbow, caused by rain. Similarly, ‘rainbows’ caused by water sprays is also non-qualifying.

Quality is not too important in qualifying (but please take good care when photographing). If you are not sure of your photo, take more than one, and in slightly different directions. Keep the camera as steady as possible and do not rush, the rainbow is likely to be visible for a few minutes at least.

If you are new to photography or cameras then you may wish to experiment on ‘pretend’ rainbows first.

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Useful links on the Internet:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/rainbow

http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/

http://www.atoptics.co.uk/bows.htm

http://eo.ucar.edu/rainbows/

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This page was last updated on:  16th August 2011

© Copyright of this web site belongs to:  Friends of Kelsey Park

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These two rainbows were photographed in June, both close to the park (unfortunately not in the park) by two different people. It’s very likely both events would have produced rainbows that would have been visible from within the park, as well as other wether events that simply were not recorded at the time.