Friday, August 01, 2008

Quick, Capture That Glow

Sometimes The Winter Sky Is A Great Surprise

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


On my way home last night, I was driving in fairly heavy rain and marvelling at the angle of an almost-vertical rainbow that appeared majestically as I crested the top of a hill. I knew I'd be home in a couple of minutes and I figured the rainbow in the east would still be visible.

In the brief time it took me to get home, the rainbow had started to fade, but there was a sudden dramatic glow in the west, so of course I had to train my camera on the sky. I was lucky that the plane trees on our property are completely bereft of any foliage at this point in winter.

This being the case, I was able to use the upward curve of the branches as a great foil to accentuate the dramatic colour. Yes, it disappeared as quickly as it showed up. From start to finish, I estimate it lasted no longer than four minutes.

And yes, I was using my camera in the rain. That's just par for the course.


For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

55 comments:

i beati said...

Truly phenomenal

Daryl said...

Red sky at night, David's delight!

Colleen said...

THis is so beautiful! I love the orange sky!

Lana Gramlich said...

This is reminiscent of the yellow glow we had out our way last weekend (pix are on my blog, of course.)

Cheffie-Mom said...

Oh my! Very beautiful! I don't think I have ever seen the sky so orange. Great photo!

Unknown said...

breathtaking pictures

Unknown said...

Right place, right time.. gorgeous color!

cheshire wife said...

Is this the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

Ellyn said...

Wow is that ever red. So pretty

Carver said...

That's an amazing sky. You are in winter while I'm in summer but I can hardly wait for the summer to end here. SkyWatch from my Deck

Rune Eide said...

The sky was on fire - drat the rain!

But winter? Please take a trip further North than the UK ;-)

Anonymous said...

Marvellous glow. Virtually a black and orange monochrome.

imac said...

Great capture from the expert.
Pop and see mine if you have time.

marcia@joyismygoal said...

that is a glow worth capturing pretty pretty colors

Gemma Wiseman said...

Really quite unusual to see a sky like this! I too find winter skies are unique! I have been snapping pics of them almost daily on the Mornington Peninsula.

Pretty Life Online said...

Great catch for SWF! .... mine's up too hope you can drop by.... Happy weekend!

Rambling Woods said...

You intend to take one shot and something as beautiful appears!
Rambling Woods

Cath said...

Beautiful David. It looks like some one took a watercolour and washed the sky with it.
Mine's up, and next week's is scheduled too where I also used my camera in the rain! My family think I am mad.

Pat - Arkansas said...

SOMEBODY UP THERE likes you... a lot! And, you always seem to be in the right place at the right time. Coincidence? I think not.

Wonderful Sky Watch contribution.

People in the Sun said...

This looks like a cover for a book. But a good book, you know? Like a Penguin Classic.

Kim said...

That color is amazing. You are right about the tree, it is perfect.

Pernille said...

Lucky you:) This is just wonderful:) Fantastic color!

Country Girl said...

David, these shots are wonderful. I just love those colors.

Rachel said...

Wow, that is truly exceptional.

travistee said...

Hi David,
I received your email...I was Itsthelittlethings and changed to Travistee. You should be able to get in now?
Sorry for the long silence!
Lovely pics - you are so talented.

Anonymous said...

This is the first time I've seen a complete orange sky!

Hope you can hop by my SWF photos in these blogs:
Jenn Was Here
Shutter Happenings

Thanks! Happy Friday!

Kahshe Cottager said...

A beautiful pumpkin sky! It would be perfect for a Halloween night!

Have a wonderful weekend of beautiful skies!
My Sky Watch Photos Here and Here

Merisi said...

I don't remember ever having seen such a uniform amber sky. Stunning images!

Now I wonder about the fate of your camera.

Anonymous said...

This is SO Beautiful!!!

Jeanne said...

That is an amazing color. Lots of crazy weather but it is giving us all lots of material to photograph.

marley said...

What a beauty. Great colour.

Lori said...

You get such amazing skies in Australia. This is stunning!

I saw parts of your country got snow the other day (they said 'hail' on the news, but it looked like snow to me!)

judi/Gmj said...

Thanks for sharing your moment!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Flaming orange. Sparkling shots.

Charles Gramlich said...

Lana captured some pics at our house of a glow like this the other day. Very cool. Ours was a bit more yellow.

Crazy Momma said...

Beautiful! Breathtakingly beautiful!

Thank you for stopping by my blog from all the way over there in Australia!

I have a girlfriend who is heading out to Melburne for a physician's assistant program. This photo is one more reason I HAVE to visit while she is gone...

alicesg said...

Wow your photo this week is so amazing and beautiful. Never see the sky so orangy before. Have a nice weekend.

Lee said...

I keep thinking of pumpkins and campfires. Lovely sky color, David. And that tree adds a nice starkness to the image.

Have you done anything to your camera to make it a bit weather resistant? I'd like to think mine wouldn't croak if it got out in the rain but I really just don't know.

Cheers!

SandyCarlson said...

Very beautiful, David. That sky has the warmth of summer!

Sandi McBride said...

The sky is always lovely when you capture it on film...and pixels...
Sandi

Leslie: said...

Phenomenal shots!

Anonymous said...

The tree branches make a lovely silhouette against all that gorgeous, intense color and light. They're just beautiful!

Moosekahl said...

Beautiful! Winter is my favorite season. It's 90 degrees here and icky humid...not fun! We've had some cool thunderstorm skies though.

Unknown said...

wow...a dramatic red sky! amazingly beautiful!

Tom said...

Stunning captures David... and another great sky watch post.. I have a lot of catching up to do so expect me back over the weekend.

Anonymous said...

The nice red sky bow....Neat...Happy SWF!

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

These shots are stunning! WoW they nearly take one's breath away!

becky aka theRAV said...

Such rich reds. These are beautiful as always, David.

Texas Travelers said...

It's not often that you see a sky uniformly that color. Great capture.

Come visit,
Troy

Dragonstar said...

Exceptional colours David, truly remarkable.

Dave Coulter said...

Wow. That does look like winter!

esnorway said...

great pics have nice weekend

Brenda said...

Wow, that orange glow in your sky is awesome!

Louise said...

What color! A worthwhile (and lucky) four minutes!

Max-e said...

one thing about the sky David, is that it never disappoints. Great shots