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Storm Clouds
1st PlaceStorm Clouds
RianBotes


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Clouds (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Date: Nov 23, 2010
Aperture: F8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 39s
Date Uploaded: Nov 23, 2010

 Horrible start. Started at 4 and hovered around 5. For once I thought my wife was wrong and I never wanted to enter it. It was a last minute entry since I took it about 10hours before closing.

It’s the rainy season and I wanted to capture some clouds with lightning but with dusk still in the sky and the clouds orange. It was perfect weather for it and the whole family tagged along. We were armed with cd’s and Roald Dahl’s stories to listen to. They were excited as well for once. From picking them up at cubs and racing everywhere it was just one big rush. Of course when I got to a good spot, I jumped out, grabbed the camera..and my battery was dead. I just charged it 3 days earlier.
Since I got my camera back from the store after repairs, my settings were changed in that it would not go to sleep when it was in standby mode and therefore draining batteries as it was not off completely.

I was mad and lost it a bit but we drove back home looking at the most beautiful sunset and clouds with distant flashes from time to time.

Got back home and grabbed my other camera and went out alone this time. Chased around between bushes and thorns still in my office clothes and shoes but since it was to late, nothing worked and I guess it never would have, it just was not meant to be.

Taking lightning pictures is simple enough but I wanted something for this challenge that would suit the clouds challenge and bring across the drama in the sky. I often use this point from where this pic was taken as a vantage point to see what the weather is doing. It came perfect towards me and I just stayed put after which I moved to other points which offered lots of lightning shots, but no real visible clouds to bring across a mood and atmosphere to the pic

It was a long night and got back home late. When I went through the pics I did not want to enter anything but my wife said not a chance. You were out all night and now you don’t enter anything? It was either enter, or have a cross wife..:) I love my wife

I’m really surprised by the score. It was a bad week since I got disqualified in the reflections challenge and my spirit was really down. Scoring 7 with this one helps

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 141
Avg (all users): 7.4108
Avg (commenters): 8.7692
Avg (participants): 7.1091
Avg (non-participants): 7.5385
Views since voting: 5201
Views during voting: 373
Votes: 185
Comments: 30
Favorites: 11 (view)

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AuthorThread
 12/02/2010 05:49:10 AM
Rian, snapshots rarely become great photographs. Your perseverance paid off. This is perfect exAmple of the thought and effort it requires sometimes to make a great image.well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2010 03:55:40 AM
Congratulations, great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2010 01:53:34 AM
Beautiful! The woman is always right :-) :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2010 01:37:21 AM
Great story!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 01:12:50 PM
Congrats! Amazing capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 10:11:22 AM
I knew this was a winner, and going by the info you worked hard for it. Well deserved blue ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 10:09:18 AM
Well done. The voters did right by you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 07:31:05 AM
Your work and your family's dedication paid off! What wonderful light and color. Terrific. Congratulations on the win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 03:23:20 AM
Congratulations on your win! It is a fantastic image. And it's a great story that you have shared. I'm glad your effort paid off, and that you listened to your wife. (You always should, you know.)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 02:01:13 AM
Wow... stunning image brought you another Blue. Congrats mate. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 01:11:34 AM
Congrats on the Blue Rian - a stunning capture! Two South African manne on the front page. Mooi so!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 01:04:38 AM
Uitstekende resultaat Rian. Soms is dit sulke strond wat jou kwaad maak, waar jy die beste foto's kry. Mooi om te sien 'ons' fotograwe is in eerste en tweede plek.
Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 12:43:28 AM
Wonderlik Rian. Dankie vir al die info. Dit gee mens stukrag om meer moeite te doen vir goeie foto's. Jy's die weerlig-koning. Die balans en kleurskakerings is vir my die uitstaande kenmerke in die foto . Twee rosette vir Suid-Afrika - mooi so!

Message edited by author 2010-12-01 00:45:01.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 12:30:36 AM
Trademark Rian. Not the pic, the ribbon! Congrats. Fantasties soos altyd. Geluk aan Nina ook vir vasbyt!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2010 12:24:49 AM
This was my pick for the blue. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/30/2010 11:49:07 PM
yikes! keep your original, you're gonna need it! (when this ribbons)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2010 10:27:46 PM
Nice capture and I LIKE the border.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2010 09:37:35 PM
Great take and nicely framed. A blue contender for sure!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2010 03:06:24 PM
Great image! I wish it could be cropped so the tree wasn't so centered, but I love the contrast of the branching down lighting and branching up twigs. Very curious where the cropped material was, to the left or to the right.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2010 08:19:13 AM
Nice capture again. Strangely calming amidst the storm that is around. The tree hasn't changed much and the editing is way better these days. Keep it up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/29/2010 01:28:30 PM
beautiful, in a dreadful way.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/29/2010 06:43:54 AM
exceptional and unique composition. like the way the leafless tree is posed against the sky. love the timing of the shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/28/2010 11:22:42 AM
Amazing! Great balance, details, and exposure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/28/2010 03:45:15 AM
Fabulous...deserved a 10 and a ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2010 08:09:23 PM
YOWZA!! That's amazing. I love how the lightning is mirrored by the opposite black of the tree's branches. The oppose and balance one other nicely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2010 12:05:14 PM
good catch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2010 10:14:49 AM
wow just awesome
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2010 08:35:15 AM
Only slight critisism is that the lightening detracts from the impact of the massive cloud. but that's being picky. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2010 06:13:59 AM
Truly awesome capture, great tones and excellent color. Composition couldn't have worked out better with the strikes. I'm not voting but that border is horrible in my opinion. Completely unnecessary with such a wonderful photo. I'll be shocked (seriously, no pun intended) if you don't grab a ribbon with this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/24/2010 12:43:58 AM
God likes you. A Lot!
Amazing execution from concept to conclusion! Waiting t ohear the story behind the shot...
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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