Slowly Getting There

[Octane]

There was a severe weather warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology this afternoon, which meant there might be strong winds, heavy rain and possible hail. When I got home from work, I looked out my window and it was raining quite heavily, but, the sun was out. An hour before sunset, it was some of the most immaculate light that I've ever seen. On the western horizon were dark, brooding clouds in a tortoise-shell like formation where you could see scattered light piercing through the space between the patchwork of the shell, as it were.

I decided to go for a drive up to Mount Ainslie to see what I could capture. On the way up there, I saw beautifully saturated rainbows with a backdrop of very dark angry grey clouds, and, the foliage of the lush green trees stood out with so much definition. They would have been worthy of being photographed themselves. Next time.

Once I reached the top of Mount Ainslie, I set up at a decent spot. Shortly thereafter, an amazing sunset unfurled before me; lightning striking somewhere off in the distance behind me, spitting rain, and an electrifying atmosphere.

Presented here in 617 format is the view south west looking towards the Brindabella Ranges.

I'm pleased that I'm continuing up that steep slope of landscape photography, and recognising great light; a semblance of intuition around guessing when great sunsets are imminent. I hope to be able to use this to my advantage one day.

Slightly larger resolution available here (http://users.tpg.com.au/octane2/sgt.html).

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
2.5s f/16.0 at 17.0mm iso400

[Omaroo]

Oh wow Humayun. What a glorious result.

Wish I was there with the new kit too.

[Chancellor]

Stunning, absolutely stunning H. If you say you are still continuing up the slope, the rest of us will never have a chance to catch up.

[Octane]

Thank you Chris and Jeff.

Chris, what are you doing this weekend? ; )

Jeff, I have quite a while to go yet. But, with each image, it's like you take a step further. All good!

Also, my friend took the liberty to take the p1ss out of me as he knows how much this subject annoys us! http://www.users.on.net/~scruffyranger/images/octane.jpg

lol.

H

[Ric]

Fantastic shot H. Love the colours and patterns.

Out to the east though the bureau was spot on, we copped the lot at our place, wind, storms, lightning and hail.

Cheers

[bloodhound31]

Just magnificent mate! Wow! What a show. I have noticed a lot of people talking about the abundance of beautiful sunsets in Canberra of late this year. I wonder if it means anything or are people just more observant these days?

Great work mate. I am in awe.

Baz.

[troypiggo]

That's what it's all about, isn't it. You might see these sort of things with your naked eye (some even miss that), but you have to be there, set up, everything ready with the camera just at the right moment. You make that happen. Beautiful result.

[multiweb]

Quite an amazing range of colors in this picture and great sharp details to boot. Top shot. :thumbsup:

[lacad01]

Pretty spectacular, colour in those clouds is something else.:thumbsup:

[DavidTrap]

Colours are incredible H, but I can't help thinking there is too much of the big black cloud in the middle. Perhaps it could be improved with more of the mountain range - although I guess that is probably silhouetted black...

Like the p1ss-take.

DT

[ving]

wow! very impressive H! it was quite some storm hey! :D

[gary]

Hi H,

Absolutely beautiful colors! It sure was one storm we had yesterday!

[DavidU]

A fine image. very rich colours. What a great show !

[spearo]

Love the colors, that yellow really stands out too
well done
frank

[suma126]

nice colour in those clouds :eyepop:

[Octane]

Ric,

Thanks, mate. After capturing this, I started watching hailstorm videos on YouTube. Far out, we thought we have it bad -- there's some videos of hailstorms in Oklahoma -- hail the size of baseballs, which would easily kill someone if they donked them in the right spot on the head.



Barry,

Despite La Niña being a pain as far as astronomy goes, it has really provided for some of the most spectacular sunsets I've ever seen in the 4.5 years I've been in Canberra. Just stunning. If there's even a hint of cloud about an hour before sunset, I'm in the car and on my way out. Thanks!



Troy,

Thank you so much. And, being a photographer yourself, you know how that experience is. I was a bit fearful for a while when I was up there. In fact, I was about to turn around and head back as lightning was striking not far away from where I was. I saw a couple of people going for walks and decided that if they thought it was OK to go walking in that type of weather, then, I will be OK taking pictures. Just as I got to my car, it started to pour and I got drenched. Big-ass raindrops to boot!



Marc,

Thanks! I'm hoping for some more epic ones. : )



Adam,

Thanks, mate. You're right, it was just spectacular. There was this golden hazy glow in the atmosphere which is so hard to describe. It had to be seen.



Cheers, all.

H

[Octane]

David,

Thanks! I agree with you 100%. It's the shape of the cloud, too. It's really annoying. Would much have prefered for it to be not so circular in shape, and, perhaps striated and in tiers. That would have been the chops! Unfortunately, below the mountain range is the outlying suburbs of Canberra, and, at this time of day, all that would have been seen is streetlights. : (

Still, we don't get too many of these supercells at sunset, so, make hay while the sun shines!



David,

Glad you liked it. : )



Gary,

Thanks, mate. : )



David,

It was quite something! Cheers.



Frank,

Thanks, matey. Glad you like it!



Thanks, all.

H

[Octane]

Shane,

Thanks! I want more (with, hopefully no destruction to life, livestock and property!).

Cheers.

H