It’s digital art. There are four clues to that fact:
1. A rainbow is only visible when the sun is directly behind the viewer and it is always a perfect (semi)circle or arc. This is viewed from one side and is squashed.
2. The sunlit clouds indicate we’re looking into the direction of the sun so a rainbow is impossible.
3. There’s no rain.
4. The viewer looking upwards to the sky. Whilst circular rainbows are actually a thing, one usually needs to be up high looking down into clouds or the spray of a waterfall.
There are REAL photos of circular rainbows. This isn’t one of them.
This is art with a photographic component. It is not wrong, just not a photograph alone. The laws of physics dictate that for any actual rainbow, the sun is behind the camera or viewer, which isn’t the case here. I won’t call it fake, anymore than a painting of this scene is fake. But it is not a single photograph either, and shouldn’t be represented as such. It is a lovely photoshop creation.
Everything you need to knnow about rainbows
Rainbows are a stunning natural phenomenon that has fascinated people for centuries. A rainbow is formed when sunlight passes through raindrops and is refracted and reflected back to our eyes, creating a beautiful arc of colors in the sky. However, have you ever heard of a full circle rainbow?
A full circle rainbow, also known as a circular rainbow or a halo rainbow, is a rare and mesmerizing sight to behold. Unlike a traditional rainbow, which forms a semi-circle, a full circle rainbow is a complete circle of colors that appears to surround the sun or moon.
To understand how a full circle rainbow is formed, we need to look at the science behind it. Just like a traditional rainbow, a full circle rainbow is created when sunlight passes through raindrops. However, in the case of a full circle rainbow, the sun or moon is directly behind the observer, and the light passes through a mist of tiny water droplets rather than rain.
As the sunlight passes through these water droplets, it is refracted and reflected at various angles, creating a circular pattern of colors around the sun or moon. The innermost band of the circle is typically red, while the outermost band is violet, with all the other colors of the rainbow in between.
While full circle rainbows are a rare sight, they can occur in a variety of conditions. They are most commonly seen in polar regions during the winter months when the sun is low on the horizon, or in areas with high humidity, such as rainforests or near waterfalls. Full circle rainbows can also be seen when the moon is full and low on the horizon, as its light passes through the same type of water droplets as the sun.
In addition to being a stunning visual display, full circle rainbows also have cultural and spiritual significance. In some cultures, circular rainbows are believed to represent a bridge between the physical world and the spiritual realm, or as a symbol of unity and completeness.
In conclusion, a full circle rainbow is a rare and breathtaking sight that is created when sunlight passes through a mist of tiny water droplets, creating a complete circle of colors around the sun or moon. While they are a rare occurrence, they are a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and the endless possibilities that exist within it.
The laws of physics dictate that for any actual rainbow, the sun is behind the camera or viewer, which isn't the case here.
