Rainbow Sky

 

Yesterday was a day of heavy overcast and light rain alternating with clear blue New Mexico sky . . .

6:58 am

8:17 am

The waves of dark and clear were the remnants of tropical storm Alvin, which spun up in the eastern Pacific on the west coast of Mexico a few days ago, then blew north through Arizona and New Mexico.

As sunset approached, the western sky was clearing as the heavy clouds moved east over the Sandia Mountains, so I grabbed my camera to photograph our house and some yucca plants against the dramatic dark sky in "golden hour" light.

While photographing one of the yucca plants, I noticed a light curving line in the dark sky . . .

. . . and realized it was a rainbow forming right before my eyes:

As the sun sank lower in the west, the rainbow faded, leaving only the left and right ends visible:

But as the rainbow faded, a new show was beginning.  The setting sun was now illuminating the departing overcast cloud layer.  

Here's the view looking west and up as the trailing edge of the clouds was passing overhead:

Looking toward the Sandia Mountains in the east . . .

Looking northeast . . .

and southeast . . .

At last, the sun dropped below the horizon, leaving soft colors on the clouds:

If you would like to see these images in a larger format, please visit my photography website, Todos Juntos Photography, by clicking here.

Enjoy!