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Wotan's Storm WC#716
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Wotan's Storm WC#716

by Doug Koepsel

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted December 28, 2015187 views7 comments
My favorite came as a summer monsoon storm swept up the Grand Canyon towards Cape Royal and Wotan's Throne. The lightning trigger was catching the discharges as the storm drew nearer. No lightning was caught in this scene, but the cloud that formed at the end of Wotan's Throne was rather cool and foreboding. I scurried back to the truck shortly after this frame to avoid the pending lightning, rain and hail, but was a few hundred yards short in that endeavor before the heavy rain caught me.

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on December 29, 2015 at 1:10 PM
Just wonderful light and sky.  The large view is awesome.  No nits here. Now I need to figure how to put this on the big screen...
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 29, 2015 at 7:04 PM
That cloud sure does look attached to Wotan's Throne, Doug.  The grazing sun on the forground ridges, the nice look into the distance and those nasty clouds tell a fine story.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Stephen Stanton on December 29, 2015 at 8:21 PM
The drama in the clouds is worthy of the geological structures. Nice light on the ridgelines and  a great depth to the photo.  A very powerful image, Doug...most likely worth the pelting, and fortunately no lightning. 
Registered on March 1, 2015, 54 Posts, 453 Comments
Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on December 30, 2015 at 9:54 AM
Wow, that's an impressive cloud! The combination with the light on the foreground rocks makes this a real winner!
Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 30, 2015 at 7:43 PM
Gorgeous light and the cloud formations are great, Doug.  Superb dof and clarity in the image.  Well done.

devil
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on December 30, 2015 at 10:19 PM
WOW!  Easy to see why it's your favorite; It's one of my favorites too, even though I didn't shoot it (wish I did, even with the punishment you took to get it.)  The way the clouds mirror the curving rock formations is amazing.  That mirror effect enhances the depth created by the light and shape of the Canyon since the clouds envelop us, peering into the scene.  The behind the clouds makes make the depth of this scene even more dramatic!  Congrats!
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 4, 2016 at 10:47 AM
Hi Doug       What a  stunning composition.  the cloud formation  looks like  smoke from a fire.  the light & form  are  wonderfully captured.

Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments