At 6:30 a.m. this morning, I peaked through the blinds on my bedroom window. I expected to find some trace of the morning storm left in the sky. Instead, the sky was completely clear. Somewhat surprised, I walked over to a second window where I noticed dark clouds and what looked like an approaching storm.
For the next few minutes, I wrestled with indecision. I sensed that the passing showers might produce rainbows. At the same time, I wasn’t convinced that it was worth the energy to drive down to Manhattan Beach. After a few more minutes — and one last check of the weather — I finally convinced myself that the showers were coming, not going. I threw on a sweatshirt and rushed down to beach to chase rainbows.
Look! Up in the Sky! It’s a Rainbow.
When I arrived in Manhattan Beach, the conditions at the beach were extraordinary. The legendary pier was surrounded by towering white clouds, which looked like they might produce rain at any moment. I waited for what felt like hours, scanning the sky from Palos Verdes to Malibu. Nothing.
Eventually, I decided to give up. I walked slowly back to my car, stopping briefly at the end of the pier to admire the view. As I looked out over the South Bay, I noticed a faint rainbow on the horizon. I couldn’t believe my eyes. This was my opportunity!
Like a man suddenly possessed, I sprinted down to the water, camera in hand. I fired off hundreds of photos. From the south-side of the beach, the rainbow seemed to emerge from the end of the pier. The situation couldn’t get any better — or so I thought.
The End of the Rainbow?
With time running down on the parking meter, I walked back to my car. I sat in the driver’s seat, but I didn’t drive away. Instead, I once again admired the view. A few minutes later, I noticed that the rainbow had blossomed into a vibrant double rainbow. Sensing another opportunity, I grabbed my camera and sprinted down to the ocean for the second time in an hour.
In my rush to get to the beach, I forgot my camera bag in my car. This left me with one lens. As a result, I wan’t able to photograph the rainbow from end to end. However, I was able to capture an image of a trio of seagulls as they seemed to frolic in the rainbow. It was a magical few minutes.
More Images of the South Bay
For more images of Manhattan Beach, click on any of the images below, or visit the South Bay gallery.
Manhattan Beach Fine Art Photography for Sale
All of the images on this page are available for sale as limited edition fine art prints. If you’re interested in any these images, please contact Brandon directly using the form on the contact page.
