All Hail

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 28, 2010400 views29 comments

I managed to fire off a few photos from work the other day of this growing supercell thunderstorm east of Colorado Springs. This is looking north from Pueblo at the storm illuminated by the setting sun. It went on to drop lots of hail on the towns and grasslands to the east. Its not often i get any photos from work--so i thought it was worth sharing!
5Dmkii; 70-300; 1/5s at f/11
C&C Welcome!

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Mark Windom on May 28, 2010 at 6:55 PM

One of the most impressive cloudscapes I have seen! Pays (literally in this case, I'm sure) to have your camera with you at all times. I'ld be inclined to clone out that one contrail.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on May 28, 2010 at 7:14 PM

Cool shot, Stan.
Reminds me of my midwestern childhood.
How high were the cloud tops?
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on May 28, 2010 at 7:46 PM

At work with your head in the clouds, hu…? Me too.

The contrast and light are pretty.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on May 28, 2010 at 8:01 PM

Neil, i cant recall how high, but im sure at least 40,000 feet. Tops are generally lower here than out over the plains. There is an 'overshooting top' (updraft punching clouds into the stratosphere) here which shows up on the top right portion of the anvil since its lit by the sun. That's usually a sign of a strong storm.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on May 28, 2010 at 8:02 PM

Stan,

Out of all the things in nature, I have been most fascinated with clouds for what seems like my entire life. If there are clouds present, I'll go out in the back yard just to look, marvel and wonder.

Every moment like this with clouds will never, ever be repeated and so be glad you got this one frozen in time.

Awesome and powerful clouds.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolas Belokurov on May 28, 2010 at 8:18 PM

I didn't get the narrow land portion at first. It looked a bit out of place, but I viewed your photo several times and must say it really works. Such an amazing display of color and shapes framed by the "frightened" land below.
Great work

Registered on July 22, 2009, 41 Posts, 533 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on May 28, 2010 at 8:20 PM

Talk about EPIC. The vertical comp is perfect for scale.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 28, 2010 at 8:32 PM

I totally enjoy looking at this. Glad you shared it, its great!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on May 28, 2010 at 9:27 PM

massive clouds you got here, Stan! so powerful and peaceful at the same time. I was wondering how high were they but I have already read you´re response to Neil. nice work capturing this "display" of mother nature, you nailed this one. great work!!!!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on May 28, 2010 at 10:10 PM

Well captured Stan. I like how you included a little section of land at the bottom. Great job.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on May 28, 2010 at 10:30 PM

Spetacular cloud formation Stan. Love the warm light on the upper clouds.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on May 28, 2010 at 10:47 PM

The colours delineating the top section of cloud is just perfect for this impressive cloudscape.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 28, 2010 at 11:43 PM

Wow! It looks like the cloud is going to swallow the sky... that or the Death Star is going to come shooting out of it... great capture and I know how you feel about getting photos at work. Sometimes everything aligns

P.S. nice title

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on May 28, 2010 at 11:50 PM

Beautiful cloud and light. This is a dream come true drama. Lucky you, you had the camera with you at the right time. Very cool shot, Stan.

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on May 29, 2010 at 12:07 AM

Very special, Stan. This really shows the power of nature.
I like the colors and shapes.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Mel Ladewig on May 29, 2010 at 12:17 AM

I saw that bad boy too. I was under the anvil on the west side and it was impressive to say the least! Nice shot of a cool cloud Stan.

Registered on July 24, 2005, 114 Posts, 1205 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on May 29, 2010 at 12:28 AM

That's a powerful thunderhead!
Nice capture

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 29, 2010 at 1:15 AM

That is one awesome cloud Stan. And the light is spectacular. Incredible image.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on May 29, 2010 at 7:30 AM

That's one impressive cloud formation Stan. I think your capture portrays this well. Not sure if it lives up to the high composition standard of your other work, but I know that this was never your intention here.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Kennon on May 29, 2010 at 8:04 AM

Very impressive shot, Stan.

Registered on August 20, 2005, 6 Posts, 132 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on May 29, 2010 at 2:09 PM

Stan: One of the most powerful cloudscapes I've seen in quite a while. Spectacular lighting and exposure. Excellent. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on May 29, 2010 at 3:48 PM

Holly anvil Stan!

Fantastic picture really impressive

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Shephard on May 29, 2010 at 10:29 PM

Awesome shot Stan. I love the colour and you know just looking at it that the sh*t is about to hit the fan. We are entering the severe weather season here in Alberta and I will definitely have my camera with me 24/7.

Registered on February 23, 2010, 62 Posts, 132 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on May 29, 2010 at 10:55 PM

Awesome Stan.
Reminds me of the sonnet by John Magee:

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings," etc............

Way to seize the moment.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 30, 2010 at 3:26 PM

Mysterious, powerful, beautiful.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Erik Iverson on May 31, 2010 at 10:36 AM

Great shot! I really like the way the thin strip of silhouetted land anchors the composition. It really makes the fabulous cloud formation much more towering and impressive. Great way to keep an eye open and catch the unexpected shot!

Registered on March 8, 2010, 1 Posts, 26 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on May 31, 2010 at 12:07 PM

Thought clouds can be amazingly interesting, it's rare that I find an interesting photo of them. This is an exception. The light on those clouds is great and you captured it perfectly. I think it's even better with the strip of land cropped out. It's not needed.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on May 31, 2010 at 9:44 PM

Thanks for all the kind remarks, folks!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on June 5, 2010 at 2:18 AM

very good stan. i like the majestic size of this. not sure if there were any textures in the lower third that some processing might be able to pull out.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments