A faint rainbow outlines a flowing sea of luminous clouds that diagonally link a burst of sun to the silhouetted figure of Winged Victory that stands atop Arizona’s Old State Capitol building. The allegorical figure still functions as a wind vane. It is often seen as an angel -- its wings and torch symbolically protecting and guiding those who have governed Arizona over the years. The silhouetted angel appears to be welcoming the flow of divinely inspired clouds with an outstretched wreath. I saw the faint rainbow for the first time on my computer screen. It adds both magical and spiritual content to this image, a reminder that photography can tender mysterious gifts to us in surprising ways.
(You can see additional images of Winged Victory in these galleries at http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/105037588 and
http://www.pbase.com/image/105037214 )