Can anyone explain this phenomenon? I call it a fogbow. But where are the refraction colors? Is it because the droplets in mist or fog are smaller than rain drops? Anyhow, it provided a fine mysterious frame for my favorite clump of oaks.

Knickerbocker Flat, Cool, CA.

Can anyone explain this atmospheric phenomenon? i.e., how come a

"mistbow" is grayscale and a rainbow is in color?

Wow, what a lucky shot. You got such an amazing mood here. I don't know what the hell this is, but it sure fits the scene very well. I've never even seen a fog rainbow before, this is awesome. Good job, thanks for sharing it!

What a capture! I've never seen or heard of this phenomenon either, but it is cool. Great shot, I bet it would work in B&W even better.

What time of the day was this shot taken? I'm just wondering if maybe it has something to do with the angle or amount of light hitting the mist.

Hi Tony,

 

It's probabaly a Fog Bow. That sounds like a too simple awnser :) but have a look here

 

http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/rainbows/bows.htm

 

I first though it might be a Cloud Bow, but...

 

http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/droplets/fogbow.htm

 

...shows a better explanation.

 

Awesome capture btw! Especially with the tree. Eery setting and atmosphere. The path leading to it is the perfect finishing touch.

Thanks for the link, Doeke, and the comments all. Looks like a fog bow, alright. The photo was taken about 8:45 am and the fog was thinning with the sun shining partly through it. According to the web site, because of the smaller droplets, fog bows are thicker than rainbows, and the colors therefor more diffuse. The colors in this one, though, weren't apparent when I took the photograph, and aren't visible in the image at all, even cranking saturation all the way up.