As we drove through the desert in Colorado’s Delta County, a double rainbow overtook the sky. We were compelled to pull the car over and capture one of nature’s greatest marvels.

Delving into the history of the double rainbow, it is said in Chinese culture that a primary rainbow illustrates a human descending from the heavens, red symbolic of the feet, violet representing the head, and the middle colors indicative of other body parts. Because the secondary arc of a double rainbow has reversed colors, the human figure ascends from earth to heaven. Because of its rarity, seeing a double rainbow is considered to be a blessing and great reason for reflection and meditation.

Rainbows are formed when sunlight passes through raindrops. Because the light bends entering the drop and then again as it leaves the front of the drop, it forms a curvature. The bending is what separates the colors, but you can only see the rainbow if the sun is behind you.

Do you have a photograph of a double rainbow? If so, we’d love to see it! Upload it to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and link to Steinberg Photography with #DoubleRainbow. Award-winning photographers Jim & Lori Steinberg capture nature’s wonders all over the world. To learn how to become a travel photographer in Colorado or beyond, or to learn new tricks, check out our workshops here and connect with us on Facebook to see more photographs of nature’s wonders.