WC - 1st Place Winner

Gallery: EPA 2011Posted August 9, 20113,975 views49 comments

Evening Thunderstorm

Last week was a stormy one at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon which made for some awesome sunsets. Sitting at Cape Royal watching this storm for over an hour was a wonderful experience! The rain looked like a giant waterfall emanating from the clouds and spilling over the rim of the canyon. The lightning (there was lots!) was icing on the cake!

Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200mm @140mm, 8 sec. at f/22.
C&C Welcome!

Comments

49 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 9, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Stunning shot - really awesome. The sky and lightning bolt is really exceptional..
excellent work!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by John Fan on August 9, 2011 at 10:29 PM

Wow. The canyon is on fire! The lightning is a nice focal point.

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 9, 2011 at 11:34 PM

Absolutely amazing, Phillip!

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on August 10, 2011 at 12:47 AM

Amazing is the word I'd use, too. Wonderful work.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on August 10, 2011 at 6:41 AM

Outstanding work!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on August 10, 2011 at 8:16 AM

This looks excellent Philip, you've really captured the elements here. Great job.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by Craig Myers on August 10, 2011 at 2:51 PM

Really great drama and beauty. Wonderful capture.

Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 10, 2011 at 11:02 PM

I saw this late last night, Phillip but it was late so I didn't comment. This is fantastic. I love the layers in the landscape and the curtains of rain contrasted with the fiery sky is awesome. Of course the lightning tops it all off. This is just fantastic.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on August 11, 2011 at 11:26 AM

Stunning work, the colours are amazing and love those sheets of rain, great timing on the weather system !

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on August 11, 2011 at 2:06 PM

That is just awesome! I love all the colours in this image! It's such a cool shot. The lightning bolt is a BIG bonus!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 11, 2011 at 2:31 PM

Awesome shot Phillip! I love the light, colors, comp, and the lightning puts this over the top for me. Excellent!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on August 11, 2011 at 3:28 PM

Phillip,
I like the layering, colors and rain that highlights the ridges from the south rim. The lightening is a great element. Well done!

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 11, 2011 at 4:08 PM

Awesome shot. The rain, lightening, and sky colors are great, but it's special to be able to see the ridge shapes below the rim.

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on August 11, 2011 at 4:52 PM

This is amazing. Wonderful shot!

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on August 11, 2011 at 5:31 PM

What a beautiful dramatic scene! Excellent shot!

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on August 12, 2011 at 2:29 AM

Phillip: Oh my word. I'm not even sure what to select to compliment you on, because the whole thing is just outstanding. Wonderful work in the field and in processing...this is a special image.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Schwarz on August 15, 2011 at 12:23 PM

Great capture. Nice touch to queue the lightning.

Registered on November 29, 2006, 236 Posts, 1210 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 17, 2011 at 1:36 PM

Congratulations on a well-deserved EP.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 17, 2011 at 1:41 PM

Congrats on a fine WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Kennedy on August 17, 2011 at 4:02 PM

Excellent image Phillip! Great colors and outstanding capture of the dramatic rain and lightning. I love the sense of layers too.

Congratulations on the WP.

Registered on March 9, 2009, 79 Posts, 676 Comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on August 17, 2011 at 4:37 PM

Woowww! Absolutely amazing shot!

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 17, 2011 at 9:12 PM

Awesome! Truly a once-in-a-lifetime image.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 17, 2011 at 11:41 PM

Amazing catch--congrats, Phillip!

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

Comment posted by Don Grall on August 18, 2011 at 1:50 AM

What an awesome experience, and then to catch a shot like this is truly as you said icing on the cake. Spectacular!

Registered on November 18, 2003, 16 Posts, 132 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Atencio on August 18, 2011 at 10:54 AM

Oh My! Exceptional on every level Phil! The backlit rain streaks bringing out the layers in the canyon is truly awesome. Congrats on this one

Registered on June 23, 2009, 21 Posts, 422 Comments

Comment posted by Jack Brauer on August 18, 2011 at 11:24 AM

Wow. This must be one of the best if not THE best Grand Canyon shot I've ever seen! I love the soft painterly feel of it, and the lightning bolt brings it all together with a focal point. Amazing...

Registered on September 12, 2005, 40 Posts, 627 Comments

Comment posted by Todd Caudle on August 18, 2011 at 1:26 PM

OMG, this is incredible!!!

Registered on November 9, 2003, 472 Posts, 3705 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Trainor on August 18, 2011 at 5:06 PM

This is amazing - congratulations!

Registered on April 21, 2009, 1 Posts, 2 Comments

Comment posted by Phillip Noll on August 18, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Thanks so much for all the kind words! It really was an incredible evening. I had never seen anything quite like this before and feel privileged to have witnessed it first hand!

Registered on November 17, 2003, 207 Posts, 1083 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on August 19, 2011 at 2:37 AM

Oh my goodness! Phenomenal. Love the low driving rain and the low bolt of lightning. The whole thing is just amazing. Congrats.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on August 19, 2011 at 8:13 AM

Phillip, this must be the most amazing image I've seen this year!

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on August 19, 2011 at 8:42 AM

this is killer

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

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on August 19, 2011 at 11:09 AM

Incredible

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on August 19, 2011 at 1:01 PM

Just...wow. Might be a once in a lifetime shot Philip!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Allaire on August 20, 2011 at 7:21 PM

Absolutely beautiful..Its the experience of being there I envy!

Registered on August 16, 2011, 0 Posts, 1 Comments

Comment posted by Pedro Bento on August 21, 2011 at 9:58 PM

Jesus, this is unbeliveable

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

Comment posted by Jim Bullard on August 27, 2011 at 12:44 PM

Bad weather = good photos. Well, at least sometimes it does and this was one of those times. The lighting bolt is cool and just where you needed it. Great photo.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 30 Posts, 128 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 2, 2011 at 1:59 PM

Wow! What a dramatic scene Phillip. This is so powerful!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on September 3, 2011 at 4:48 PM

Mouth agape! Fantastic imagery!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 3, 2012 at 1:00 AM

Congrats on the 2011 win - a very exceptional image.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on January 3, 2012 at 10:17 AM

Impressive shot, Phillip - what a moment. Congrats on winning the 1st prize in this category.

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 3, 2012 at 12:46 PM

Philip: Fantastic capture of a fantastic moment. Congrats on the 2011 EPA.

>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on January 3, 2012 at 3:14 PM

Ba Da BING! Awesome, truly a flagship image.

Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 3, 2012 at 8:33 PM

Such a great image . Well deserving of the award. Congratulations

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Mohammad Hosseini on January 5, 2012 at 8:48 AM

Congrats Phillip,

Registered on May 16, 2011, 15 Posts, 301 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 6, 2012 at 9:52 AM

Congratulations on the WC 1st place winner, excellent shot, a very unique view of the canyon, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on January 8, 2012 at 9:03 AM

What an image! I don't understand what produced the horizontal line dividing the image.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on January 28, 2012 at 8:09 AM

utterly compelling. an astonishing image worthy of the EPA 2011. well done!

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on March 27, 2012 at 7:19 PM

Jeeze, an amazing image!!!!

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