Prairie Rain

comments welcome.

I find this to be a very pleasing departure from the standard rule of composition. I think the lighting is subtle yet leading, it really gives you the feeling that you're standing at the edge of a tempest and directs the eye to the cloudburst. The only distraction would be the head and tail lights of the cars. While they do provide scale, they are synthetic in an otherwise natural environment.

 

The vehicle lights are a minor distraction, however. They don't diminish the beauty of the photograph.

Jeff, thanks for your comment - I really like comments like yours that provide valuable inputs, which is a reflection of your very careful observation.

I agree with you - this location is fairly remote (Camas Prairie, near Fairfield, Idaho), however the spot where I composed this photo was directly facing a road in the distance. Clouds where gathering in the west and to compose a shot with falling rain, I didn't have much choice. I didn't have much time either - since the thunderstorm was approaching really fast towards us. I wasn't brave (or foolish!) enough to continue my photo shoots where I was standing (in a very open, wet marshland!) and run the risk of taking a lighting hit.

Camas Prairie is a wonderful location - those spring wildflowers bloom and carpet the entire land quickly, but only last for a week or so. When the thunderstorm was brewing, I was thinking how fleeting those moments in time are... storms and wildflowers are long gone for this season - but those memories last forever!

I have two more compositions taken near the same location - links below:

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7387099

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7387077

Also, my friend Lalit Deshmukh, has a wonderful shot as well:

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7370531

thanks again,

This is very nice shot Chandra Mouli. I remember this evening and the (not so) distant storm. This is very good display of the whole situation. The most beautiful part of this picture for me are the clouds, they are so sharp also show the depth. I am amazed how you captured those flowers so calm. Did you have to use a very high ISO?