The Beginnings of a Midwestern Storm... by anahata.c
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Description
The other day, Harry (goodoleboy) made a fine observation about some clouds in one of my photos. So I decided to show him---& all of you---a genuine Midwestern out-of-the-blue exploding thunderhead! A grainy zoom of Lake Michigan before all hell broke loose. (Sorry about the grain, it's the only shot I got!) There wasn't a cloud in the sky, when this tiny cloud appeared---a billow, a mere pup---where, within minutes, it grew to adulthood, had kids, became CEO of a major bank, bought out several small chains & turned to me and shouted: "So you're the one who's been photographing my friends!" It made a bee-line for the shore, its friends joined in, the city was under a pea-green sky, and it let out a deluge that could sink a small planet! That's the Midwest, folks: That's how fast it happens. Do they have those in L.A. Harry? (I know, you guys have earthquakes. But these are pretty impressive, especially if you're under one at the time...)
Comments (23)
lyron
Splendid image. Fantastic capture!!!!
magnus073
This is really a great looking shot Mark, and being from roughly the same area of the country one I've seen all too many times myself. This really is awe inspiring and gives everyone a idea of just how fast they can develop. Your behind the scenes thoughts really made this one perfect.
bmac62
Magnificently fearful...not a time to be out boating in a 14 foot runabout. Like the sense of big weather approaching FAST. Illustrative and moody at the same time. Well done my friend.
helanker
Oh my goodness. It really looks dangerous, Mark :) Hope you got home in time, so you didnt get wet again :) What a beauty it is and the colors are awesome. A fantastic shot. Love it.
romanceworks
Awesome, fiercely beautiful. Don't mess with Mother Nature. CC
dragonmuse
Wow.. powerful seems like a very weak word to describe this. Amazing capture.
MrsRatbag
Oh yes, I've seen these happen, from a still sunny day to a dark noisy downpour complete with electrical display; they are very impressive indeed! Great capture of the birth and adolescence of this one!
durleybeachbum
Amazing and terrifying, and your narrative is a hoot!
anaber
Fantastic description and great photo of it! woooosh!!!Mark!i had seen in movies...but in real, what experience of what the word "rapidity" really means in all meanings! Excellent capture, again.
flavia49
awesome!! fantastic capture!! love the colors!
sandra46
WONDERFUL STORM! SUPERLATIVE IMAGE!
beachzz
Omg, looks like one of those clouds you see on the cover of National Inquirer-you know the ones that have satan's face in them? I can't see his face, but this fricken thing deserves a cover for sure!! I'm sure after he dumped all that rain, he just walked away quietly, probably chuckling to himself, "Hehehe, got em good that time"!!!
npauling
How amazing for this cloud to form so quickly and then to empty its water over everyone. It probably needs its plumbing fixed. A wonderful capture of this formidable looking cloud and I love your little story to go with it. The grainy effect makes rather a nice texture for it.
alanwilliams
wonderful, i cant believe the intensity
goodoleboy
Stunning and awesome, virtually Close Encounters of the Third Kind, in this overwhelming capture of the evergrowing and threatening thunderhead, Mark! Stellar lighting effects most apparent in this one. As for this happening in Los Angeles proper, never seen one in all my years here, but I believe they do occur in the mountains and possibly the desert areas of Southern California, but certainly not over the ocean near the shore. Occasional waterspouts though. Oh, and thanks for the plug. I can use all the notoriety I can get.
auntietk
If anything like this ever happened here, we'd all be standing around with our jaws on the floor. I mean hey ... we get clouds. Seriously. And we get big ones like this quite often. But they're WAaaaaaaaaaY the heck up there in the sky! I've never seen one low enough to knock on your door. Man alive!!
Marinette
...mi fa piacere ritrovarti.Torno più tardi nella tua galleria. Excellent photo.:) gea
marybelgium
fabuleux !
three_grrr
When I open a picture in your gallery .. my mouth always drops .. there's a sharp intake of air .. and then an OMG! This one is awesome .. I LOVE clouds .. and I don't often seem to have my camera handy when beauties happen, or I'm driving and can't pull over to get a shot, or there's 50 billion wires obstructing the shot .. This .. this is stunning, a beauty, and I hope it didn't get you wet!
lior
So impressive cloud!...what can I say?? I am speechless!
Chipka
Isn't it wonderful watching these things grow! Now, if bunches of them grow and the sky starts darkening and turning green and passing hailstones...RUN FOR COVER and pray to whatever gods you believe in...heck, pray to some you don't believe in as well, just to cover your bases, 'cause a Twister's a-comin'. Anyway, back to this actual image! I love thunderheads, and I love the way they bloom and stretch, get those nice anvils, then billow up a bit more, just as lightening starts dancing inside of them and occasionally touching ground. This captures that incredibly, humongous majesty and it kinda makes me wonder just how much of Indiana got zapped by any possible electrical discharge from this puppy.
faroutsider
The ONLY thing I miss about the South African highveld, where I grew up, is the powerful and exquisitely beautiful thundercloud masses that would build up just over the horizon, then pounce with frightening speed and majesty, often throwing bolts of electricity and/or hailstones the size of golfballs... In Cape Town we do have occasional thunderstorms, but they are poor imitations of the real thing that I experienced (and obviously survived) in my youth. Great shot, great energetic memories...!
MidnightPlatinum
The grain on this one gives it life to be honest. I normally hate the grain, but it somehow gives the feel to the viewer of those half-dreary days. Beautiful shot.