Smitten with rainbows

There's a Gary Larson cartoon I always think of when I hear the word 'Smite'. In the Larson cartoon God is watching on his computer screen some poor Shmuck walking down the street unaware that there's a grand piano hanging over his head – and God has his finger on the 'Smite' button, ready to zap a sinner (presumably, I'm sure he wouldn't smite losers just for his own amusement...).


All I can say about smiting and me is this: I hope if I do get smitten by the Good Lord, he uses a rainbow instead of a grand piano, as I am already smitten with rainbows and so a bit more smiting from above would actually be quite welcome. I've been noticed!


Pam and I have successfully finished our little spot of business up here in Newcastle and will be heading home to Sydney soon, but as we wandered back towards our apartment, we could see yet another shower coming in from the sea, and by the time we were up to the eighth floor, Pam rushed to her camera and took some lovely little rainbow photos. Alas, I was also there on the balcony to do another pan shot with commentary on my digital camera, folks.

Perhaps there's a pot of goldfish at the end of
this rainbow? As far as Pam is concerned,
this is the best rainbow she has seen – ever!

Such a gorgeously complete half-circle bow! The light 'inside'
the rainbow was a pale pinky yellowy grey blur, while on
 the outside all was much darker and looked full of rain.

You can see the double rainbow forming here;
the whole thing dwarfed the coastal settlement.

Pan shot time, folks, for the full size of this pretty bow in one take.


Thank you Newcastle, you've been quite spectacular this visit, we'll be back again sooner rather than later, I am sure.

Rainbow morning

It was more the quality of light itself which caught my eye this morning, saying to me "get the camera out, there's something happening".

My favourite photo enhancer – rain – was making everything shiny, cool and clean (apart from my muddy shoes). The cumquat fruit in particular look lovely dusted with droplets.

The rain itself is the showery stuff. Heavy at times, stopping suddenly then beginning again as if on a switch.

Glistening paths and glowing colours. The sun was doing its best to break through. The light was more yellow than golden, but all the greens and yellows had their saturation setting a few clicks richer this morning.

Wandering a little further out into the garden as the rain eased, the patch of blue suddenly opening up in the active clouds allowed the morning sun to warm to its work.

And then I finally managed to turn around and look back over the house. You can see a hundred rainbows and be delighted each time, and then when you see your hundred and first it's the same thrill as the first. Wow!

Rushing through the house to the front landing – chasing rainbows no less – the wonderful full arc reveals itself.

Touching down to Mother Earth – peaceful, quiet lightning – the rainbow's colours become richer then fainter as the clouds behind darken then lighten up, as the sun's beams wax and wane through the busily drifting clouds.

What a welcome way to start a day! For me, it's not a gardening day. It's a working day, a very busy one in fact. I'm about to rush off to see another issue of a magazine off to the printer, then hustle a book a few more stages in the same direction as well. And attend planning meetings too when they can be squeezed in. And now, this wonderful rainbow-powered start to the day has put all this frantic activity into a better, healthier perspective.

Slow down, take in the beauty around you. Then begin the day.