CLOUDS

Have you ever really looked at clouds? They come in so many different sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. Sure, most of the ones we normally see are just a few in the sky and when they are floating in the sky, many are simply nondescript. But, given the right weather conditions and the right lighting, they give us nature's art in the sky.

This month, I want to share several clouds that have caught my attention--clouds worth the time to quickly grab my camera and start shooting. Sometimes I just happen to have my camera with me when they present themselves to me. Some were amazingly surreal, some were alarming, some were ethereal, and others were simply artistic. Below are just a few examples. 

When photographing clouds, I always know that I will have to make exposure adjustments, due to their highly reflective compositions and because I am aiming my camera at the sky. if I don't make adjustments, the built-in light meter will under-expose my images. At other times, depending on the lighting, it will over-expose my images. It also requires quick adjustments--the formations often last just seconds! 

I was inside my home and could feel the weather changing. The late afternoon sky was getting darker. After a few minutes, I opened the front door and saw this! 

I loved the ominous yet artistic sense of giant golden swirls as the clouds expanded in the sky. The play of darks against brights created tension. It was terrifying art.

I was driving home from work when I saw these beautiful Monet-ish layers in the sky. I sped up to quickly get home to grab my camera. Luckily, the layered curtain of nature's best was still there. I included just a hint of treetops at the bottom of the image. The layers don't look real, huh?

I was on a long photo shoot trip when I saw what looked like a message from above! It seemed to be lighting my path. You can read a lot into this, but the sun rays shooting through the dark clouds above gave me goosebumps.  

Unusual, UFO-like lenticular clouds are common in mountainous areas, such as in Colorado where I saw these beauties above Dillon Lake in Frisco. They looked like soft ribbons floating in the sky. They also seemed to mimic the shape of the mountains below them. The size of those clouds!! 

I was approaching home when I looked up and saw what looked like a giant Sandhill Crane flying above me! In my classes and book, Right Brain Photography, I talk about impermanence. In the case of photography, if you see something, don't waste time--get it, now! 

 

As I walked to my car after having Sunday breakfast at one of my favorite diners, I looked up and saw clouds with a hint of pink. Pink? I included a hint of the sun to complete my composition. I underexposed the scene a -2 2/3 stops for dramatic effect. The black silhouette at the bottom is the tip of a nearby mountain. 

Here is another UFO in the sky. There are acres and acres of wavy farmland a few miles east of Boulder, Colorado. I couldn't resist the combination of waves on land with the extraterrestrial shape hovering above them. 

I titled this piece, "Clouds on Fire" because that's what they looked like. With the late afternoon sun touching the horizon, the clouds were set on fire! It was an absolutely unbelievable sight. Impermanence. 

This last example was a fun hurry-up-and-get-it kind of shot. It was early evening. The sun had set. I served myself a glass of wine and stepped out onto the patio to relax. As I sipped some Cabernet and looked up, I saw what I call "Zorro Moon." It looked like Zorro had taken his sword and painted his legendary Z in the sky. Less than a minute later, the Z was gone.

I hope my tip of the month will inspire you to keep looking up at the sky, I've seen UFOs, birds, layers, fire, messages from the sky, and even a Z. What will you see? 

Feel free to contact me with any comments or questions. Have fun!!