4th of July Light Show

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 6, 20111,878 views18 comments

I spent the 4th of July skiing at Mammoth Mountain and stop for sunset in the Mojave desert on my way home. The afternoon thunderstorm was beginning to clear and the sun broke through the clouds on the horizon, causing the whole desert to glow. The rain also brought out the colors in the pink volcanic rocks. I didn't make it home in time for the fireworks, but I enjoyed the natural light show instead.
Thanks and comments welcome,
Rudy

D700, 14-24mm
f16 @ 0.5

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on July 6, 2011 at 9:25 PM

That's really quite surreal Rudy.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on July 6, 2011 at 9:31 PM

Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time and be ready to click the shutter. Awesome light show and well captured.

Registered on July 6, 2006, 126 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on July 6, 2011 at 9:32 PM

A fantastic capture. The double rainbow is just excellent against those clouds.

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

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on July 6, 2011 at 9:32 PM

What a cool shot!

Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 6, 2011 at 9:50 PM

This is great Rudy! I would miss the fireworks for this too. Beautiful shot...double rainbows...awesome!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 6, 2011 at 10:19 PM

Wow Rudy that is very unique. Nice capture of wonderful light.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on July 6, 2011 at 10:27 PM

That is one incredible light show. When I see a scene such as this it always reminds me that Nature isn't putting on this show for our benefit, but rather that the fact that so many humans find a scene like this so amazingly beautiful speaks to how deeply connect we are to Nature and how delighted we are when there is a show such as this. Really, we're like children whose parents are giving them a treat when something like this happens, and that pretty much defines the relationship quite well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 6, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Amazing scene Rudy. I especially like the mix of warm and cool colors. Well seen! .....Especially the double rain bow.

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

Comment posted by Alister Benn on July 7, 2011 at 6:27 AM

Wild sky... looks like you did as well as you could with a foreground counterpoint...

Registered on June 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 258 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on July 7, 2011 at 8:32 AM

I'm glad you stopped for this image, Rudy. It's so beautiful!

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Pedro Bento on July 7, 2011 at 8:43 AM

What can I say, this is a great moment of mother Nature. Nice capture.

PB

Registered on September 2, 2007, 45 Posts, 761 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on July 7, 2011 at 1:31 PM

this is stunning, i really love it, fresh & lovely colors

Hamed

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

Comment posted by Jake Case on July 7, 2011 at 8:04 PM

Way to create a super cool effect using the rainbows, looks like they're radiating out of that tiny joshua tree. Looks of great drama and color here too. I do wonder if the cyan is too overpowering in the sky, but it does give it a "4th of July" type of feel. If it were mine I would address the cyan, but no one else has said anything so maybe its just me. Anyway, awesome capture....way better than any lame fireworks!

Registered on December 13, 2010, 38 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on July 7, 2011 at 8:25 PM

Excellent shot Rudy. Very representative of a desert storm in the Mohave. No nits or suggestions from me.

Michael

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

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on July 7, 2011 at 8:33 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone, they're greatly appreciated.

Jake, I had a hard time with the WB on this one. I'll have to go back and play with it some more.
Thanks,
Rudy

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 8, 2011 at 9:01 AM

Terrific light show. I love how you've caught the rainbow following the shape of the clouds and where you placed the cactus.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on July 8, 2011 at 9:13 AM

Rudy,

Just simply beautiful, There's something really special when you get illuminated Rain or Virga. You showed some sense not scramblim' about looking for a foreground to match the stellar sky. This image is all bout the starkness of the desert it's need for rain and that spectacular light.

Paul

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

Comment posted by Gorka Lopez on July 8, 2011 at 1:02 PM

Fenomenal moment of light, absolutely stunning image. The rainbow it's just in the right place, and the contrast of cold/warm colors works rally well.

Well done!

Registered on July 4, 2011, 8 Posts, 31 Comments