Incredible lightening storm

On the way home from work today, there was an incredible lightening storm. I detoured down to the beach and set up a tripod to make a few photos. 

This is my favorite.

The Clouds of Michelanglo

First, I manipulated these three images. I saw these incredible clouds yesterday on my way up island. I pulled over to find a spot where I could photograph them. There were amazing to me, like nothing I've ever seen in my life.

As I was making these photos I knew what I had to do.

The took the title from Refuge of the Roads, by Joni Mitchell's. She sees the clouds as “muscular with gods and sungold.” 
I saw them a bit different.

I guess these incredible clouds are responsible for the high winds and rain we are having today. Feels like the wind is gonna rip the house right off the foundation.

Photographed with the Canon 5d mkII and processed as HDR images in Photomatix Pro and ARC.

November Sky

In nineteen days this blog will be a year old. I was unsure about investing the time in something that I would not see a financial return in. Not too far into the year I was hooked. Mostly because it gave me a reason the make the images that first got me excited about photography. I couldn't support my family, have a mortgage, and have a new car with just the income generated by photographing leaves and grass and sunsets.

I make my living photographing politics, political people and government. Not very exciting as far as blog material. It's not the kind of subject matter that you'd use experimental processes or extreme angles to photograph. Yes, I sneak something more artistic in every once and a while, but it's rare that it gets used.

So blogging gives me the reason to photograph more personal things, it gives me reason to take a camera on walks or places I normally wouldn't take a camera.

After almost a year, I find myself looking forward to reading posts by some of my blogging friends. If fact most mornings it the thing I do after I pour my first cup of coffee. I've learned a lot about the web from fellow bloggers, and I've seen some very creative sites with very talented artists.

I'd like to thank every visitor and everyone that follows and comments on my blog. You are my motivation.

Today's pictures were made on the drive home from a Veterans Awareness Week Kick-Off event the sky was full of beautiful color. To the east was the moon surrounded by shades of pink and purple. Behind me was fire orange and blue. The November sky is special.

Both images were made with the Canon 5d and processed with ACR.