Saturday, June 13, 2009

Shelter From The Storm . . .

Well, I confess, I was in a cemetery again on the evening of Monday, May 25th, just a few weeks back there now, looking for images like this one, fading stories from the First World War. Sepia photos on tombs of men with incredibly thick whiskers and a glint in their eyes; and those four tragic words : " Mort Pour la France " . . . recording these last traces of their memory before the words and photo on the plaque fade away entirely . . .
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Just after taking the above picture I turned around, and realized there was an incredible show taking place in the sky to the west where the sun was going down. The storm system moving in was immense, so big that an airplane was flying around the edge of it, leaving a curved vapor trail . . . It is hard sometimes for a camera to capture the true size and dramatic qualities of some natural events like this, the human eye remains unequaled for taking in the vast scope of Mother Nature's stage shows . . . this photo hardly does it justice . . .
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And the sky just kept getting darker as the towering clouds kept obscuring more and more of the light. I headed for home, while the storm clouds piled up higher and deeper as night fell. Between midnight and one in the morning, there was a god-awful lightning and thunderstorm that kept lighting up the yard like high noon, accompanied by a torrential downpour the likes of which I've never seen here. We had water coming in around the back basement door, which has never happened while we've been in this house. I spent a good part of the night mopping it up. . .
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But I heard a few days later that just a few miles north of us, a large area got blasted with baseball size hailstones that badly damaged cars, destroyed the roofs on houses, and broke skylight windows in children's bedrooms, scaring the bejesus out of children and parents alike... so I guess we got off lucky. The next time I take pictures of clouds like these, I'll know to start looking for shelter from the storm . . . and I'll put the car in the garage !
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29 comments:

English Rider said...

This is Art!

James said...

I am amazed by your pictures. Imagine if wow times 4.
So cool.

That is the chicken said...

OH wow! Can't say much else! These are stunning!

Ann said...

beautiful photos....you have captured natures beauty and fury in one photo. That such beauty can cause such damage................

Pretty Zesty said...

These pictures are incredible. I am speechless!

Álvaro said...

Congratulations for your last pictures!
Bye

Steve said...

The weather just can't resist making love to the camera...!

jeff said...

Je dois dire que ta photo de croix est très très belle ! Même si...!
Quel bel article !
Aujourd'hui, je suis dans la peinture. Je repeins une pièce de mon chez moi ! Alors, je reviendrais ce soir pour te faire un petit coucou !
Ciao my pote ! Amitiés !

William Evertson said...

Yes it looks like mother nature is vamping for the camera. Love the reflection of sky in the polished granite(?) in the second shot.

Batteson.Ind said...

That last shot is stunning! and I thank the lord I wasn't around that storm, I'd probably have needed therapy after it!

Loulou said...

Dernière photo sublime Owen, ombre et lumière là aussi, mais pas seulement ;-)
Tu nous inondes de beauté grâce à ta lanterne....

PS - tu seras déçu d'apprendre que ni toi ni moi n'avons gagné de memory card chez NikonSniper. En même temps, il nous reste plein de choses non ?
:-)
Excellent weekend

PS - à la question des "chats en inde", je t'en parle bientôt sur Indiaphragme quand j'ai plus de 3 minutes de libre ET d'affilée :-)

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

Awesome photos. I really like that last one.

@eloh said...

As always your photographic skills are tops. I won't slobber.

Question: Is it okay to be there after dusk? Here in the states that will get you a free ride to the pokey. Just curious as I love the places.

The last picnic I took my children on was to the city graveyard.

Buskitten said...

Wow Owen! That looked / sounded like some strom! I love the photo of the plane going around it - amazing! The grave ones so evocative and sad.... I have diced with (near) death, and got Tiddles' tricycle out of the shed! So please go and have a look at it! Have a lovely weekend x

Buskitten said...

Storm, even!

Lynne with an e said...

Very dramatic shots. The Georgia O'Keefe cross with distant flying angel is stunning. Great story, too. Wonderful treat to wake up to this morning...even before I've had my coffee.

Art4Sol said...

Wonderful shots!

Anonymous said...

Owen j'adore vos photos! I love seeing storm systems, and the last photo with the cross is just amazing.

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PeterParis said...

Your photos are fantastic and the heavy clouds are fantastic to see, but scaring!

I have been a bit too absent lately - actually busy by meeting several bloggers - good excuse! I have now read and looked at all your cat and dog stories etc!!

Rhiannon said...

Hi Owen,

Thank you for dropping by my blog and adding as a follower.

I love your photos..the first cloud photo almost looks like an explosion of sorts..I love clouds so so much. They are such a wonderful gift from nature for us to observe their changes, shapes and forms each and every day.

By the way your black and white kitty pics and your little story about the 3 legged cat was very sweet and well written. I love black and white photos.

Blessings,

Rhiannon

clo said...

Coucou Owen...vu l heure qu il est tard je t avoue que je n ai pas déchiffré l article qui accompagne les photos..mais je pense que tu ne m en voudra pas...je voulais te dire simplement merci pour ta visite...et a bientôt...bonne journée...amitié..:)

Marguerite said...

Fabulous photos and story, Owen! Maybe the storm had something to do with you taking pics in the cemetery. lol

Owen said...

Hi Marguerite, well, between storms and cemeteries, reminds me of that film "Skeleton Key" that took place down in Cajun country... whatever the case, there was strange energy in the air that night for sure... (those Pecan Pie Brownies look like heaven...

Bonsoir Clo, pas de souci, si j'avais plus de temps j'écrirais en français comme en anglais, mais déjà écrire du tout n'est pas facile... mais toujours un plaisir de te lire ici !

Rhiannon, you are very welcome here, glad you liked the kittie pix, and yeah, I was wondering if Paris had been hit by a nuclear bomb or something, the way that cloud just kept growing, it was surreal... (always loved the Fleetwood Mac song with your name, saw them play it in concert in 1978)

Salut Peter, Hope you had a great time meeting more bloggers ! Seems to me you were doing that down in the south of France not long ago too ??? Sounds like fun, there are alot of good people out and about in the blogosphere I think... loved your graffiti work !

Shadow, ok will take a look...

Hi Rain, well, it never rains, but it sure pours sometimes...

Art4Sol : Thanks !

Louciao, hope your coffe was wonderful, hmm, yeah, maybe Georgia could have painted this scene. Your pix from NYC are great there, btw... will be back to look more closely...

Hi Liz, oh wow, Tiddle's tricycle was too much fun... he and I have been out riding all day !

@eloh, hi, it's ok to slobber, as long as you bring your own mop ! LOL ! Ummm, I'm really not sure as to the technicalities of being in a graveyard after dark in France, I don't often do that, by day I'm fine, but at night I'm not sure I'd like that too much, would probably be jumping out of my skin at every little noise !

LGS, glad you enjoyed, the coming storm had all the four legged and feathered critters scampering for cover...

Ah, cher Loulou, trop sympa là... dommage pour le mémoire chez Nikon, en fait, j'avais complètement oublié tout cela... tant pis ! Dois-je comprendre que tu as un peu du mal à aligner trois minutes, toi aussi ??? Quel sacré jonglage qu'il faut entreprendre pour blogger, vivre, photographier, etc... bon courage et merci !

Watercats ; you and I both ! That storm was too much... I'd expect that in the tropics, but not here... things are changing...

Hey Bill, vamping mother nature and vampires from the cemetery were out in force that night !

Salut JEFF, j'espère que la peinture c'est bien passé, et oui, c'est encore dans un cime....

Steve, mmmm, the clouds were soft and sensuous, but starting to get riled up and billowing up, putting their best curves forward, perhaps like your dentist, and all I could do was watch in total wonder... my camera had a good time though...

Alvaro, Kris, Ann, Chicken, James, I'm running out of steam here, pant, pant, many thanks for these kind comments... I know how much time is required to get out and visit blogs around the blogosphere, so I really appreciate your visits here... do come back, the coffee's always on...

And last but not least, English R., I guess Art is in the eye of the beholder, but if you say so, I'll buy it, as I'm starting to gather that you have rather exquisite taste in many domains... in any case, I hope you have a wonderful time riding and whatnot while the expo goes on in France !

Once Upon A Blue Crow said...

I'm in awe...

Catherine said...

stunning photos here...quite wonderful!!

Vivian aka Deborah said...

I will simple say, this photo is breath-taken!

Lily Fields said...

Hi O....These photos are fantastic....I am a cloud afficianado. They speak to us with all of their various formations, colors and different effects. These are dopler heaven...I cannot tell you how many times in the last two-three years, folks all across the planet, have said how much their weather has changed. The severity of storms are more intense and first time sightings of unusual weather....an inconvenient truth...

But back to the photos...Magnificent ! What a surprise and a delight...Thank you for sharing your art....moi..

Marie (d'Espagne) said...

What magnificent photos you made, Owen! Absolutely magic !!!!!