High Sierra Topix

Earlier this year on my Yosemite trip, I was fortunate to witness an intense
thunderstorm that produced dozens of lightning strikes south, east, and west
of my location near Wildcat Point.
I got hailed upon, rained upon, and for it I witnessed a show that a photographer
only dreams about.
Here is my favorite/popular selling B&W photo for the year of 2010.
What makes this a special photo IMO is that the intensity/drama created by the
lightning is muted by the softness/serenity of the lenticular cloud.
The whole scene is dreamy, as one feels detached from the electricity of the present
conditions.
As you shall see in later photo's, the exact opposite feelings will be experienced/
conveyed.
This beautiful photo is available as a 16" x 24", 24" x 36", or larger print, by PM-ing
me.
It has the look of a charcoal sketching, which adds to the allure even more.
Oh, kind of reminds you of the "War of the Worlds", doesn't it?
Enjoy.

another very powerful shot!

thanks for sharing..

Russ

Thank you Russ, glad you like it.

That's one great shot ! Looks like the lightening started in the cloud ? I didn't know lightening could start in a lenticular cloud.

That is pretty cool!

Very nice shot Maverick - that does have a "War of the Worlds" feel.
Herm

Thanks Tom, Mike, and Herm.
Tom I'm not sure whether it came from the lenticular cloud or from above
and through it, my guess it came through it since there where so many lightning
strikes that evening most coming through the lower level clouds that obscured the
thunderheads above.

Wow, this an extremely rare meteorological event. To even have lenticulars (which require horizontally moving air masses) mixed with cumulonimbus (which are needed for lightning and must have a vertically moving air mass) in the sky at the same time, and then lightning coming through the center of the lenticular.... WOW! That is really being in the right place at the right time! Way to go Mav!

jd

Thanks JD, it really was a very special event.
That whole evening was full of first's for me, lenticular lightning, sunset lightning,
multi-shot time lapse pano with multiple strikes, and a gorgeous fire red sunset lighting
up the entire Cathedral Range, Tuolumne Meadows, and Kuna Crest area all in one
pano!
I will post these at another time.

I love this shot...fabulous!

This is the kind of photo that some criticize (for example, local Dave McCoy) because the average person never sees scenery like this when they visit. I disagree. I have seen amazing scenes...elements coming together just right... and I strive to try to capture them the way I experience them. And I love seeing photos of scenes that others have been in the right place, right time, extraordinary circumstances. These moments in time happen and I applaud those who capture them!


(In the last couple of weeks, we have had the combo of venticular and cumulus clouds occurring over the Owens Valley and The White Mountains. They change very quickly and put on a great show, if you like watching clouds...)