Oklahoma in springtime - where, without any warning, a day turns to night in a matter of minutes; where the entire world seems to stop and hold its breath. Nothing moves - not a bird, not a single blade of grass. Electricity and anticipation fill the air.
Trust me when I say there is nothing nimble about a cumulonimbus cloud. Huge anvil clouds sweep in like some gigantic anchored thing lost and drifting at sea.
Spring storms define this landscape - shaping it with its errant winds, fire from the sky and flash floods of unexpected rain.
Born from this unstable air; swirling, cooling downdrafts. A downy feather remains unmoved while a nearby leaf tumbles up to heaven.
Its on these occasions that nature makes sure man knows his place in the order of things.
It is the storms that tame us.SkyWatch Friday is here:
Wow, those are some dark storm clouds!
ReplyDeleteI've heard the weather changes quickly in Oklahoma and I here I see you confirm it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow, great pictures! Storm clouds are very interesting and make great photos. None here today in my part of Oklahoma though.
ReplyDeleteThe second photo looks amazingly unreal. Great photos. =)
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful, T.R.--so strong in color, hidden wind and sound, I imagine, too.
ReplyDeleteIt must be awesome to witness.
Awesome Sky watch post!
ReplyDeletegreat photos!
WOW, your photo's are amazing!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing.
Happy SWF
I love these kinds of skies, the energy in the air. Very good post.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Oklahoma. Your stunning photos bring back memories.
ReplyDeleteWe used to call them electrical storms. I don't hear that up here in Maine, where our weather is milder, at least in the summer.
I can remember lying on my bed at my grandparents' house which faced a meadow to the west. It was amazing to watch a cloud start to come up, the sky darken in stages, & then to be totally engulfed in noise, wind, rain, & darkness all in a matter of minutes. And it would go as quickly as it came sometimes. There are no storms like storms in OK. Awesome & awe-inspiring. The pics are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteblessed be...
Very dramatic skies, beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteWow, jaw dropping photo's! Excellent shots. You are so right about the storms here in Oklahoma.
ReplyDeleteStunning photography. The stark contrast of color (blue, gold) in that first picture... WOW! That second picture looks like errant clouds trying to secret a tunnel. And your final words: It is the storm that tames us is undeniably true. Hope all is well. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteI could feel the electricity in the air.
ReplyDeletePowerful.
Great post. Yep, the spring storms here can be awesome.
ReplyDeleteWe are shown our place indeed, and yet at the same time those quiet times before the storm are lovely in their intensity, reassuring in their strength. You've captured the feeling of the air in those pockets of time.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos TR!
ReplyDeleteI love the prairie, but it sure can be scary that way, I guess.
Wow those clouds.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos...love the dark dramatic skies...the first shot is stunning...and your descriptions are great!
ReplyDeleteDear Tim,
ReplyDeleteThis is a time when I did not focus on your photos. Your story held me fast and your photos were a grand bonus.
From a storm lover, this is a fave. Consider yourself poked several times as You are the master photographer and writer.
Mary
All glorious shots, but the first one I just adore!
ReplyDeleteWOW! Simply amazing and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love the contrast in all your photos! From the yellow-blues to the whites and browns. Awesome SWF photos!
ReplyDeleteI went to college in Bethany, then to Dallas for eight years and back to OKC for another seven. Oklahoma is right up there with Virginia as my favorite state. The people are friendly and warm and the wind really DOES come sweeping down the plains. When the wind stops and everything becomes still... that's the time to be really nervous in Oklahoma.
ReplyDeleteWOW...what an incredible series of captures..
ReplyDeleteI really like that second one .. what a wild looking sky..
That first picture with the gold and the indigo is so captivating, and that second photo is magical. It's like God rolling the clouds away or like sea billows in the sky. Thanks for sharing our beautiful world and making us care more about it. Big props for that $5 colum-ish word. Hhahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteThat first picture with the gold and the indigo is so captivating, and that second photo is magical. It's like God rolling the clouds away or like sea billows in the sky. Thanks for sharing our beautiful world and making us care more about it. Big props for that $5 colum-ish word. Hhahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteHola Tim,
ReplyDeleteStunning pics! There are no storms or rain on this city, I'm not familiar with all that!
Take care!
Mel
I love the big sky and how it puts me, and everything else I know, in my place! Wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteHoly Moley Tim! Any twisters from those clouds? I can see where storm chasing would become addictive!
ReplyDeleteTR, these photos are so dramatic! I love them and your narrative is perfect. I like your observation that it is the storms that tame us! You are so right!
ReplyDeleteThe combination of your photos and words make for an ominous and poetic effect. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteCheers, DavidM
'there is nothing nimble about a cumulonimbus cloud".
Even their name 'cumulonimbus' suggests that their cumbersome. :)
Beautiful series of images Ryan. That image of the tree standing all alone braving those threatening clouds is awesome...Thomas
ReplyDeleteWhat compelling photos you take!!! Absolutely stunning, just as Mother Nature is.
ReplyDeleteHi TR
ReplyDeleteWow, such tight cropping somehow makes these look even more powerful. Some of these, especially the photo of the single tree, remind me of Mark Rothkos paintings. Just having to take in these vast expanses of muted color is a task. The photos tell a story. You narration adds a third dimension.
Thanks for these.
I've recently watched BBC Wild weather movies. And yeah storms look fascinating when you watch them from a safe distance but they can become terrific if you happen to get nearby.
ReplyDeleteYour pics are an example of the 1st case when storms are so beautiful to watch.
So, wherefore art thou, oh missing blogger? It hast been so long since thy last post. Wilt thou grace us with a smattering of prose and photography soon? I miss thy contenance and thy words and mine eyes long to see thy face in a little icon on my blog!
ReplyDeleteThose are great storm pictures.
ReplyDelete