Iridescence. "Rainbow Essence". Clouds arrayed in wonderous patterns and flowing with vivid 
rainbow colors! They appear in the direct vicinity of the sun, usually riding across within 
thin cirrostratis clouds, or around the edges of cumulus clouds. The clouds change color and 
shape as they fly. Yellow is rare. I have seen a cloud laying like an ocean of yellow waters, 
appearing to rock and roll in long slow waves. Blues and greens are also shy, only appearing 
if all their other rainbow colored friends are present. It's interesting to see these colors, 
where most people do not even realize they're there! The color patterns look the same as the 
colored circles making up the suns corona, or some, the pattern oil makes on the top of water.

 A pair of glasses with polarized lenses is required, not only to protect the eyes, but 
most of these sky phenomenon can't be detected without them! 

  These photos were taken with the Nikon Coolpix 8700 digital camera. Excellent camera!

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  With the coming of the cold winters air here in michigan, brings more of the great 'cloud
rainbows'. With so many variations of cloud patterns, and ice crystal content, the display
and intensity are ever surprising!

  Here, I believe, are the most color I've ever seen in the clouds, taken on Jan.9,2004

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 It has been some time since I took some acceptable iridescent cloud photos. Here are
a few taken on july 7th, 2003. They are hard to photograph seeing that you have to shoot 
directly at the sun!

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 Here are the photos I have taken since the year 2000. Sure are interesting...

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All photos available for sale at: 'universed2@i-is.com'
All photos are copyrighted. No use or duplicating without written permission.