Stormy Sunset

5/25/15, Cheyenne Bottoms. The skies had cleared over Great Bend during the afternoon, while strong storms popped up just to the east. Late in the afternoon, clouds started moving in again. About an hour before sunset, I decided to take my chances, and went for a drive around the Bottoms. I suspected that there was enough room below the storm clouds to allow the sun to break through as it set. I was right, and was treated to a beautiful sunset. There were great clouds to the west, storm clouds to the east, and some high clouds that drifted in right at sunset. The total time between the first and last of these images was only 11 minutes. This was one of those nights when it was hard to decide which direction to shoot :).

Dropping below the clouds.

Light beams formed as the sun dropped below the clouds while shining through a gap in the clouds.

Looking east, the setting sun lit bands of clouds even as the storm produced a bright bolt.

8 minutes after it cleared the clouds, the sun started to light the underside of the storm clouds as well as the high clouds that had drifted in.

Closeup of the setting sun and clouds.

Even as it set at the horizon, the sun was still lighting the high clouds, as well as the rain from a nearby shower.

Last light, illuminating the high clouds, storm clouds, and rain curtain.

After heading home for a while, I went back out after dark to try and capture the clouds and lightning. Most of the lightning from my positions was buried in the clouds. The first picture below was taken from across the Bottoms, looking towards Hoisington, and shows an interesting cloud over town. For the second shot, I moved in closer to the storms. Again, most of the lightning was in the clouds, but I liked the storm elements highlighted by the frequent bursts.

Storm over Hoisington

Layers of storm clouds and rain, illuminated by in cloud lightning.

It was a great night, especially the sunset. I was glad took the chance and went out and was able to witness and capture the beauty of a stormy Kansas sunset.

Within the Rainbow

5/6/15, Cheyenne Bottoms.

Storms were brewing in central Kansas, and I decided to watch the clouds from Cheyenne Bottoms. I noticed a storm cell approaching, so I turned my car into the storm so I could watch it. Behind me, the sun was just breaking free of the clouds. When the first rainbow appeared in the leading edge of the storm, I positioned my car so that I could better photograph it. This small change in position would prove to be a fortunate decision. The resulting position allowed me to photograph the incoming storm with my car window down, without getting very wet, despite a torrential downpour. At one point, as the storm passed over me, I appeared to be within the rainbow. The following series of photos shows the sequence of photos I took before, during, and after the fast moving storm.

5:09pm, Storms building

5:17pm, Man in the clouds

5:25pm, the storm builds

5:29pm, the storm approaches

5:33pm, within the rainbow

5:34pm, a double rainbow appears

5:34pm within the rainbow as the rain ends

5:35pm, a beautiful double rainbow immediately after the rain ended

5:44pm, impressive structure to the storm as it passes over the Bottoms

5:45pm, impressive structure to the storm as it passes over the Bottoms

From my perspective, I was within the rainbow at one point, which I found to be amazing. I was able to watch the edges of the rainbow cross the road near my car as the storm passed over me.

Graham Photography’s blog is now live

Welcome to my blog. I normally post new photographs to my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/RobGrahamPhotography . At times, I have wanted to share a series of images from the same event, with a description of what happened. This blog will allow me to do so. I will also post the occasional tutorial/tip.

Photographing and sharing images from Kansas, especially central and western Kansas, has become a passion of mine over the last few years.

Rob Graham, Great Bend, KS

http://www.facebook.com/RobGrahamPhotography

http://www.ksimager.com