19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Iridescent clouds while golfing in Scottsdale, Arizona

This photo captures a colorful optical diffraction phenomenon I'd not previously heard of whereby parts of a cloud contain small water droplets or ice crystals that individually scatter light. The colors often resemble those seen in soap bubbles.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2020
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Scottsdale, Arizona, United States of America
Copyright: © Michelle Smith