Story Behind the Image | Rich Color in Stormy Weather

Shortly before I took this image I was sitting on some rocks by the side of a small stream waiting for a storm to pass me by. The rain was coming down in sheets and bursts of thunder cracked in the distance around me. I like this image because of the color and composition, but also because it reminds me of how much fun shooting pictures can be. The rain started to let up a little bit, so I left my shelter and continued on my adventure. I left the camera in my backpack where it would be protected from the rain that was still lightly falling.

Stormy weather can be a great opportunity to shoot photographs. This image was taken in the middle of the afternoon. Usually that time of day is a horrible time to shoot. The angle of the sun casts harsh shadows on its subjects and creates unflattering scenes. With the cloud cover of a storm the light becomes softer and the colors become richer.

As I walked past this patch of clovers and bamboo, the rain stopped. So I decided to take out my camera and do some more shooting. I like the high perspective in this image because it brings out the shape of the clovers. I composed it so the bamboo would rise out toward the edge of the frame. These natural lines act as a way to bring the viewer's eye to the focal point of the clovers. The water droplets give this image an added refreshing element, and the cloud cover from the storm makes the green vibrant and rich. This image was shot at f/4, for 1/60 sec. with a 70mm lens at ISO 320. It's one of my favorites, thanks for reading.

Nichole Shanks

Story Behind the Image | Clouds over Lake Henshaw

It was almost dark when I took this photograph. I hiked down along a path that led to a small beach of Lake Henshaw. I took some images down by the water and headed back up the trail. It was a quiet and peaceful evening as I walked up the trail through the rolling hills. I turned back to look around me as it was getting darker, and noticed the wispy clouds stretched across the sky.

That split second at dusk before it gets completely dark is a great opportunity for creating some dynamic images. The colors become rich and vivid, and there is opportunity to shoot with a longer exposure and a smaller aperture, allowing for more of the image to be in focus. Some of the best images I've created come from this time of the day. It always amazes me how quickly the light changes, increasing the color saturation, and then shortly after, pitch black.

I like this image for a lot of reasons. The biggest is the clouds. The color in them is beautiful and also the softness they convey works well here. The exposure time I used was just under a minute. As the clouds moved across the sky during that minute, it translated into the soft motion you see here. I like how they are the focal point, and how they tower over the lake. The lake and the hills seem small and still underneath them. I used an aperture of 9.5 to keep everything in focus, from the grass on the hillside to the mountains in the background.

After I took this image, I decided it was time to go back. I could barely see and I still had to follow the trail back up the hill. I should have brought a flash light with me, but I was not that prepared at the time. I didn't get lost, thankfully, and made it back safely to my car at the top of the hill. This is one of my favorites, thanks for reading.

Nichole