The document describes a rare and vivid double rainbow that was seen near McFall, Missouri on a February evening. The author pulled over and was able to get exceptionally close views of the rainbow using a fisheye lens, capturing photos of both sides reaching all the way to the ground. As the rainbow dissipated in the fading light, the author took more photos of the scenic landscape lit by the setting sun.

1. RAINBOW

2. God's promise is breath taking!
On this day a rare February Rainbow was seen here in Northern
Missouri at sunset. This rainbow was visible over much of the
area and was noticed by many people. It was seen as a partial
bow in some areas and completely full and even double in
others depending on where the rain was falling. The photos on
this page were taken at the Elam Bend Conservation Area near
McFall, Missouri

3. As I pulled the truck up next to one of my favorite trees I looked over
my left shoulder and there sat the most vivid rainbow that I had ever
seen. It appeared to me to be about a 100 yards away or maybe even
closer. I was unable to get a great shot at first. I couldn't get out of
the truck with the camera because it was still raining fairly hard. I
didn't want to get water on my lenses. Notice that the sky inside of a
rainbow is much brighter than the area outside.

4. This is a close-up of the photo above. It shows the apparent
close proximity of the right flank of the rainbow. That tree line is
about 1500 feet away from me as measured on an aerial photo. I
have never seen a rainbow this close before other than one
created by artificial sources of water such as a garden hose or
sprinkler.

5. A fisheye lens view of the rainbow including the old tree near the
road. The hill behind me put part of my surroundings in shadow.
This was my first ever shot of a complete rainbow. No other camera
or lens that I have ever owned was capable of taking such a shot
where both flanks of the rainbow were seen all the way down to the
ground. As an added attraction this was a double rainbow.

6. This is a photo of the left flank of the rainbow. The rain had moved
beyond the tree line at this point. These tall trees are on the
southern bank of the Grand River as it runs to the east near Elam
Bend.

7. I moved closer to the tree with the fisheye lens for this
composition. The secondary rainbow is still there but is
disappearing fairly quickly.

8. As the rain moved on and the rainbow dissipated the view was still
picturesque to the east. Notice that a small portion of the rainbow
(primary and secondary) is still visible on either side of the tree
paralleling the trunk..

9. A ghostly red hue lit up the landscape as the sun disappeared
below the horizon.

10. Above view of the old tree with the sunset behind it. This ended my
photo sequence for this evening

11. This is a summertime view of the same tree at Elam Bend shot
in 2005. The name "Elam Bend" is a place name that describes
the bend in the Grand River that occurs here. The river has
changed its course in this area including a major shift as a
result of the flooding in 1993. This area is also listed in the
book Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri as a "shutin" where the river valley narrows considerably with bluffs very
near the river.