Great clouds over the Mtns. this morning

Did anyone else go out shooting this morning?

I woke up to clear skys to the east with clouds over the mountains.

So I rushed down to the Garden in hopes of making it in time for the 'light show.' I just barely got there as the clouds were starting to light up. I had very little time to setup for the best composition. But I did capture some of the color as it hit the clouds and peak.

I'll post some shots after work today. If you captured any morning light today please do share.

Here they are. This one is probably my favorite:
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4001131/4#242303168-A-LB

Go to the last page of the gallery to see the rest:
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4001131#P-2-28

Does anyone know if there is a better way to predict these conditions: clear to the east and clouds to the west? Maybe Stan the weather man might know. Usually when I see any clouds in the forecast I look for this possibility. But sometimes its really hard to tell in the early AM looking at the dark sky.

I know ALL the secrets of the clouds, but if I tell you, I'll have to kill you.

The Flatirons were gorgeous this morning. But alas, I was without my camera.

Let it go, Derek. Todd's right - he owns the clouds and doesn't share well.

I found that getting up earlier instead of being a lazy Computer Geek, allows me more time to get to a good spot for morning clouds! Just Kidding! I saw the same clouds this morning from the Airport, but my spot wasn't as photogenic as the Garden would have been.

By the way, the late morning clouds were nice too from a Southeast vantage in El Paso County looking back at the Peak.

Well,

Since the cloud man won't reveal his TS Info I'll be content with the fact that weather.com has the next two days as cloudy, then more next week. But alas, the forecasters are very fickle...

Or does the weather in Colorado just change too fast for them to keep up with? Hmm....

Either way I'll take partly cloudy over clear any day of the week! With too many plain blue sky days I tend too get a bit grumpy. I think it is reverse SAD. LOL... More clouds, More clouds !!!

Derek, have you not yet learned the Colorado mantra? Wait five minutes! I have been working to late at night this week but I am sure I will be in the Garden or on Rampart tomorrow morning.

Ok,

Here is one of the first shots of this morning's color and light:
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/242287589-XL.jpg

The rest can be seen here in the last page of my winter gallery here:
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4001131#P-2-28

Those GOG shots are real sweet--i was hoping someone was up there shooting when i saw the conditions this morn!
In answer to your question, yes there is a pretty reliable way to get that info--look at the raw model data for that morning. With farily strong NW flow aloft and some moisture coming in from the nw yesterday, the conditions you were looking for were a good bet, but looking at satellite and model data would have confirmed that. I know Todd looks at satellite, he's confessed to it in previous threads
Dont bother looking at weather.com as it is Atlanta-based and they don't even know what a mountain looks like.
One of these days im gonna have to hold a class to teach interested photogs where to find better weather info on the net.
Head out midweek for another round of bad but good weather!

Wow, thanks Stan. That is very helpful info. I would also definately be interested in a class.

Is there another good weather site you would recommend such as wunderground or?

Next week is showing some more interesting weather coming in.

Thanks again,

Those are some great looking clouds. Really like the pink color.

Beautiful sunrise shots Derek. I'd be tempted to crop some of the bottom off that first one and make it more of a panoramic.

Stan, I'd line up for that class if you ever conduct it!!