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Katrina's Approach
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Katrina's Approach

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted October 4, 20152,739 views7 comments

This pre-dawn shot was made on Saturday August 27th 2005 at Galvestion Island, before Katrina made landfall the next day in New Orleans. I  was using the Canon 20D with a 'kit lens @ 22mm. Galveston dodged the bullet on that one.

Needless to say, we were beating a hasty retreat inland, our weekend getaway cut short.. You can see the surf & wind was just starting to kick up at Galvestion, just 36 hours before it hit. One of my old favorites because it documents the coming disaster well..

F/7.1, 1/4 second, ISO 400, Canon 20D, 22mm @ 5:45am

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 4, 2015 at 1:43 PM

The image captures a mood well. The lights of the city add a nice contrast to the dark ominous sky. My wife grew up in Galveston and I was stationed there in the Coast Guard. I never went through any hurricanes there, but she did.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on October 4, 2015 at 7:47 PM

One of my old favorites because it documents the coming disaster well..

Just what I was going to say, Howard. Interesting documenatry image of a famous Hurricane. Looks foreboding and somber. We don't get many (as in any) hurricanes up here in Ohio but I was attending college at LSU in '74 when Carmen came through. It was obviously nothing like Katrina in '05, however. 

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 4, 2015 at 9:50 PM

Nice one, Howard.  It certainly conveys the stormy look.  I like the water coming past the string of signs, though I don't know what they're about, it adds drama.

devil

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 6, 2015 at 2:21 AM

Well, Howard, I'm glad you didn't go for the tsunami...  Interesting that 24 hours ahead, this looks only mildly threatening.  I like how much of the surf action that you've caught with the multiple lines of breakers, the fine combination of the lights of town and enough daylight to see the building, and the threatening sky.  For me, you've got an interesting combination of ominous from the natural world and inviting with the city lights and buildings.  Very well captured.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 6, 2015 at 9:51 AM

Howard, what an interesting juxtaposition of the un-trainable sea of the natural world, and the totally trained and almost peaceful look of the mankind world.......frown

I guess one thing that always strikes me to wondering just how intelligent ??? man is, is how close we build to the water around the world. Not just oceans but inland waterways as well. Obviously the lure is there just looking at it or hearing the water rush by, but no thought or little of it for safety.......wink

This is an excellent documentary shot of the impending disaster, and Katrina no doubt goes down in infamy for one of the worst natural disasters to hit mankind over the years.......cheeky

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Moreau on October 6, 2015 at 4:32 PM

An interesting and ominous (especially now that we know what came of that) look at the early stages of a storm. Thanks for sharing this.

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on October 18, 2015 at 12:17 PM
Hey Howard,
This is a very powerful image, well done.
Congratulations on the WP . . .  devil
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments