CloudSpirit

I really dislike smoke. Besides, health related issues, it just kills most photo opportunities. However, smoke, just like fog could be a photographer's friend. Although wildfire smoke can hide distance clouds such as thunderstorms, the smoke particles can actually prevent storms from forming. If there is any good news in all this, it is that smoke can enhance colorful sunrises and sunsets, cause the moon to be blue to red, and can produce crepuscular rays. This very short video highlights the hidden beauty that smoke brings to the skies. For the record, I'd rather not have our forests and grassland ablaze. Taken during the 3rd week in July 2021 for Cheyenne, Wyoming. Prelude No. 16 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/preludes/ Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/

This isolated thunderstorm was 10 miles from me with the edge of the anvil overhead. This storm was about 10 miles in diameter and the closest lightning strike was 7.5 miles away. It lasted for about 1 hour before dissipating. This thunderstorm was difficult to photograph because it was very close and mid-level clouds obscured its developed at times. The cell exploded with beautiful thunderhead formation.

This cell went from nothing on radar to a severe thunderstorm in less than 10 minutes around 7PM. I heard a low rumble of thunder overhead (no lightning) but after just 3 minutes, I heard what sounded like a continuous moving freight train just to my north. It was hail hitting my neighbor's homes and outbuildings. Within 2 minutes +1 inch hail with no rain started to fall. The sound was now deafening. However, being on the western most edge of this storm, the hail ended in just 7 minutes. A few minutes later I captured classic hail shafts. Boy did it sting when I went to retrieve my other camera. This single cell eventually split and remained visible for another 90 minutes as it moved south-southeast. In this clip you will see satellite, radar, and various time lapse, panorama, and real-time video as the events unfolded. Enjoy! Music for this video: Comic Plodding - Silent Film Dark by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100457 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Recently, I was asked what my favorite images were. Clearly, I was forced to think about why I absolutely love some shots more than others. The answer is actually complicated. Here’s my take: My best photos must meet the following criteria: 1. Well executed image & post-processing In focus (most important) In frame (subject-theme is obvious) Realistic (not exaggerated) Contrast (eye catching) 2. Capture the unusual, rare, unexpected 3. Think outside the box by seeing another layer of shapes, shadows, colors 4. Use of best focal-length or panorama 5. Stack and/or lighten, darken frames when appropriate 6. The photo evokes great memories Enjoy!

The human eye can see at a frame rate of 1/10th of a second, so the finer details are missed. Even at the standard 24 to 30 fps movie, much of this event would not be recorded. Between 6:42PM and 6:54PM, I stood in my garage as I captured a nice electrical storm just 1 to 3 miles away. Using a iPhone 11 Pro Max in slow motion mode, I slowed the strikes to 1/10th real time. If a strike was faster than 1/24th of a second, there was a good chance I'd miss it if I took a normal video. However, at 240 fps, many strikes were recorded with remarkable detail. I was holding the iPhone as the storm moved by.

Highlights the best time lapse and images of weather events as seen from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Beautiful sunrises/sunsets, moon lit landscapes, thunderstorms and lightning are shown in this short clip. Music in this video Song: London Fog Artist: Quincas Moreira Album: London Fog Licensed to YouTube by YouTube Audio Library

This slide show contains recent misc images and videos time lapses that my followers might enjoy. All were taken in Cheyenne, Wyoming and they cover astrophotography, fire skies, and cloud motion. Enjoy and comments are always welcomed. Temptation March by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

For Wyoming, the thunderstorm season usually end abruptly around Labor Day so my storm videos might be coming to an end soon. However, on August 23, after afternoon showers moved through, they intensified by evening some 80 to 100 miles to my east over the Nebraska Panhandle. Despite this great distance, I was able to capture these storms using my Nikon Coolpix P950 super telephoto camera and my Fujifilm X-T3 in video mode using a Nikkor 85mm F/1.4 lens at high iso = 6400! Gnarled Situation by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100405 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Not every severe thunderstorm are alike. This short clip shows two thunderstorms; one just missing and the other a direct hit. The 1st generated continuous thunder for an hour without any apparent lightning visible to my eyes. The 2nd storm generated a classic roll cloud that I captured in time lapse. Stay for the end of this upload to hear the sounf of what continuous thunder sounds like. This will probably be my last thunderstorm video for 2021 but stay tuned for more winter storm clips. Music in this video Song: It's Coming Artist: Josh Kirsch/Media Right Productions Album: It's Coming Licensed to YouTube by YouTube Audio Library

Captured geese flying near a rising sun.

The new GoPro 10 has amazing image stabilization, keeping the horizon level even if the camera is angled up to 45 degrees. This very short trip through town shows how smooth this effect is. I was hand holding the camera over bumps and curves. Raw footage (direct from camera to Rumble upload).

If you are looking to relax for just 3 minutes, this is worth viewing. Music in this video Song: Sleepy Hollow Artist: E's Jammy Jams Album: Sleepy Hollow Licensed to YouTube by YouTube Audio Library

To create these stunning images see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oL_l.... The colors have not been enhanced but noise reduction, some sharpening, and contrast adjustments were applied as needed. These images were taken between 2017 and yesterday from Cheyenne, Wyoming and a few from Vail, Arizona. Exotics by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/

A full spectrum fire sky occurred and was captured from start to finish using a GoPro 10 and iPhone 11 Pro Max from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Music in this video Dance of the Mammoths Artist The Whole Other Album Dance of the Mammoths Licensed to YouTube by YouTube Audio Library

After a clear sky sunrise, a cold front moving south out of Montana helped to create unusual clouds. Strong winds caused several mountain wave and lenticular clouds. Eventually lower clouds moved south as higher clouds continued to move north.

Very active display.

Taken on 22 August 2019 and slowed 10x real-time. Used YI 4K action cam with 155 degree field of view (F.O.V.). This is a 4K resolution clip.

Slowed to 17 percent real-time. Image at end of short clip is stacked image of lightning. Taken 6 August 2019.

Taken on 4 July 2019 with Nikon d7100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 lens in video mode and slowed to 1/10th real-time.

After most of the rains tapered off, a few lightning flashes caught my attention and I quickly started my YI 4K action cam in video mode. Within 2:49 and 5:13 minutes, I captured these two nice anvil crawlers. I slowed the video 10x and included the original 30 fps speed captures. After these strikes (within 0.7 miles), the rest were in-cloud and just bright flashes. Taken 21 October 2018 near Tucson, Arizona.

I slowed 30fps 10x to catch various lightning discharges in more detail. These three strikes represent: (1) multiple flashes (negative); (2) fading strike (positive); and (3) quick powerful discharge (super bolt, probably positive). Taken: 15 August 2018

Recording day lightning is difficult enough under ideal conditions. This attempt, the best for me thus far, captures two separate discharges at 240 fps using my iPhone 7 Plus. The first bolt is actually a series of discharges aimed at different directions. The second bolt shows a step down leader in distinct segments. However, even slowing down the speed 8x realtime is still not slow enough. You may have to watch this clip more than once. These lightning strikes followed the virga (precipitation) channels from high based thunderstorms. Relative humidity was only 20 percent so no rain reached the ground. Anyway, enjoy. Taken 27 June 2018.

This raw clip is quite noisy but gives you an idea on the potential for capturing lightning at 240 fps with the latest iPhones. This video was taken by hand in dark conditions. Future attempts will be under more control and should be of better quality. In any event, at 240 fps, the lightning is slowed enough to see individual step leaders moving across the sky.

Well the pre-sunset thunderstorms fizzled as they move through my neighborhood. However, I managed to capture 2 strikes (cloud-to-ground) and slowed them up from real-time, to 50%, 25%, and 10%. The 2nd strike was particularly a long duration one that faded over 3/4 of a second. It was about 1 mile from my house. Looked a lot closer!

Lightning and Thunder on 6 June 2016 from Cheyenne, WY. Turn up the volume to appreciate!