Electric Badlands

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 3, 2011631 views42 comments

I was storm chasing in South Dakota yesterday when i spotted a supercell thunderstorm headed towards the Badlands. I drove about 100 miles or so to catch up to it, by which time it had already hit the National Park. As i sped southward towards the town of Interior, the light was absolutely incredible on the formations, and i wish i could have stopped, but i had to get ahead of the golfball size hail that the storm was starting to drop. Once i got sufficiently ahead, i pulled out on a dirt road to grab some lightning shots over this ravine. There's nothing quite like a supercell at sunset, the elegant violence of it all is quite special!

5Dmkii; 17-40; 4s at f/16--multiple RAW
C&C Welcome!

Comments

42 comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on June 3, 2011 at 10:20 PM

Killer shot Stan. The clouds look incredible and the lightning is just icing on the cake.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 3, 2011 at 10:36 PM

Striking image Stan.... (sorry could not resist). .... but truthfully, really stunning light exhibiting the power of mother nature. The color in the clouds and light in the foreground are just amazing.

BTW - You should have been in MA yesterday for the 50 year tornado in the western part of the state. Crazy weather even in eastern MA these days.. I had to wait in my car a half hour until the torrents of rain stop in NE MA before going into work. Hail storm close to my home in southern NH. Very unusual for here.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on June 3, 2011 at 10:45 PM

Very cool shot Stan. You've certainly managed some wicked cloud shots lately, this is no exception.

Right section is a bit blah...almost wishing you had taken a vertical instead. Small nit though..the lightning and clouds more than make up for it.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on June 3, 2011 at 11:03 PM

Man you are making me jealous! Sweet catch Stan. I'm back and forth on a crop on the right...it would take out some dead space but takes out that nice upswing of cloud in the corner.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Fricke on June 3, 2011 at 11:21 PM

Stunning image Stan! Very nice composition, I like the transition from light to dark across the image in both the sky and the foreground elements.

Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on June 3, 2011 at 11:25 PM

Payed off...awesome. Way to get lightning at 4s! :)

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on June 3, 2011 at 11:54 PM

Killer capture Stan. You chased this one down and the execution is great.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on June 4, 2011 at 12:55 AM

Wow Stan - that light is absolutely crazy. Amazing story too. The foreground looks pretty light to me considering the sky. If it were mine, I'd consider darkening. This is something very special. Congrats, Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 4, 2011 at 1:36 AM

Thanks folks!
Michael--i started out with the fg a bit darker, which is how i prefer it, but i find that dark images dont go over too well on the web. Looking at the single exposure (i processed this single exposure 4 times for the brightest highlites and darkest shadows) its actually pretty close...but i do like dark, i evfen intentionally underexpose for it.

I intimately planned the comp so there was a transition from light to dark from left to right, with the ravine pointing to the lightning bolt and setting sun...well, ok, actually i just drove like mad until i found the first spot that didnt have lights or houses in it

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on June 4, 2011 at 4:54 AM

That's some awesome mood, Stan. The clouds are amazing and I love the backlit blue part on the right - wonderful. The landscape is a good addition and quite lovely to look at too.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on June 4, 2011 at 7:32 AM

Superb sky and conditions you've captured Stan. 100 miles chasing a storm, thats dedication for sure.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on June 4, 2011 at 8:54 AM

Stan,

It's amazing how such savage power can be so enrapturingly beautiful. A long chase and you got something to show for it sweet.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on June 4, 2011 at 9:34 AM

this is more than wild

, what a crazy atmosphere

totally amazing bro

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 4, 2011 at 9:47 AM

Wow! Fantastic shot Stan. That sky is incredible! Nice work chasing this down. This one is really keeping me here.
Guess I would prefer the foreground a bit darker too, but understand your reason for posting it this way.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Shaun Mazurek on June 4, 2011 at 10:27 AM

That sky is outstanding and muti-layered.

Registered on June 12, 2010, 21 Posts, 162 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on June 4, 2011 at 11:17 AM

Has that special 'apocalyptic' look that I enjoy. Excellent work in capturing and 'developing' this image!
I find the most interesting areas to be in the left 2/3 of the shot, and believe that a judicious crop is warranted.

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on June 4, 2011 at 12:02 PM

Pretty cool shot Stan and a nice narrative.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Taylor Reed on June 4, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Killer light, I love the detail you captured in the cloud

Registered on February 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 556 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 4, 2011 at 2:27 PM

One of the most powerful images you have produced, Stan! This one is "electric." And I don't just mean the lightning bolts. Great comp, light, color, luminosity, and detail.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on June 4, 2011 at 2:47 PM

Awesome lighting n lightning!!

Consider some crops for this...

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on June 4, 2011 at 3:17 PM

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on June 4, 2011 at 4:38 PM

Superb Stan!! This is both peaceful and violent at the same time, and super dramatic. Like I said - superb!

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on June 4, 2011 at 4:59 PM

Killer sky Stan

But would agree that most of the foreground is not that interesting, not sure if a crop will work IMO

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on June 4, 2011 at 5:08 PM

That weather is scary. This is an epic shot, imo. I never really have had a chance to shoot something like this. I did however experience a powerful thunder and lightning display driving south from Page, back to Sedona at night a few years back. I was actually pretty scary trying to drive in that pitch black night with no lights anywhere to be seen. Sometimes we would have to pull over and stop to wait for the rain to let up, so we could again see the road!!!!!!!!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on June 4, 2011 at 5:58 PM

Just incredible, Stan! This is a great reflection of the power and drama of mother nature. I can see why folks are suggesting a crop, but then you'd lose some of that amazing sky, which is what this image is all about IMO.

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Donald Case on June 4, 2011 at 5:58 PM

The landscape is beautiful and the lightning icing on the cake, but the clouds are just incredible...Stan, do you use a lightning trigger?

Registered on January 28, 2010, 45 Posts, 99 Comments

Comment posted by Rodney Dugmore on June 4, 2011 at 6:03 PM

Electrifying indeed Stan.
Very nice!

Registered on January 3, 2004, 76 Posts, 1028 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 4, 2011 at 6:31 PM

Donald--no lightning trigger. None needed with all the lightning here, and it was dark enough that i could just keep shooting 4s exposures (started with 2s--ended up at 5)
Paul--exactly, cant lose any sky here--so folks will just have to live with the less than spectacular fg (i kind of like it--at least its not brown like the grass around here...)

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on June 4, 2011 at 6:58 PM

Wow, looks like the chase payed off Stan. An amazing shot with incredible sunset color intermixed with the storm. This is really wild stuff!

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on June 4, 2011 at 10:04 PM

It's not exactly luck when you work your butt off to get in place for this shot, Stan. the sky , the light, the lightning, the foreground, all come together for a great image.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on June 4, 2011 at 11:34 PM

I'm not really sure the foreground was even necessary here Stan, but WOW, what a sky! No shortage of those out in your area of late it seems. Glad you're getting out chasing!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 5, 2011 at 4:03 PM

Incredible shot! Well worth the chase.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on June 5, 2011 at 5:31 PM

Pretty incredible weather and light, Stan, must have been quite exhilarating! The foreground, however, does nothing for me.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on June 5, 2011 at 5:36 PM

Stan, I love the atmosphere here. Very powerful image,nature is amazing. Would love to storm chase some day, the only thing is I could get hooked on it very easily. Great stuff.

Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on June 5, 2011 at 9:10 PM

AWESOME Stan! I love it! You are the king of dramatic skies!

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on June 5, 2011 at 10:22 PM

Stan! This is tremendous! Those lightning bolts in front of the colorful and dramatic sky make for a spectacular scene. Well done, sir!

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on June 6, 2011 at 9:25 AM

Amazing catch, Stan. Great light and drama. Love this photo!

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on June 6, 2011 at 10:30 AM

nice one stan. the sky is a winner, the land stuff is much less compelling but i see that you have made the most of the situation (gully pointing towards lightning ...). i'd have preferred a darker land portion as well - would add considerably to the drama.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 6, 2011 at 12:56 PM

Thanks, Stuart. You know, I've been driving several thousand miles around the heartland--Oklahoma to South Dakota mostly--and 99.9% of the landscape is non-descript farmland, most of which is not even postable in this gallery, and the tiny amount that is, is even less dramatic than this. You dont really expect Patagonian Peaks in KS. So, its all pretty relative

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on June 6, 2011 at 6:45 PM

Did you happen to take a shot of just the sky? I'd love to compare that. As is, I'd crop the right and call it fantastic. The clouds in the upper left are amazing.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on June 7, 2011 at 1:13 AM

Amazing shot Stan ! Day before yesterday I was in badlands and obviously the sky was absolutely clear !

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Helmut Steidl on June 11, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Hello Stan

What a great job .... The mood in this image is incredible .... Wow .... I love this shot ...

Best Regards from Austria
Helmut

Registered on May 18, 2011, 17 Posts, 67 Comments