Lightning Storm

[trptmitch]

This storm popped up so quick, I didn't have time to get to a better location to shoot it. So, I'm stuck with the house profiles and trees below. C&C welcome!

 

[hombredelmar]

I liked the shot, very natural!

 

[sscarmack]

WOW! Thats awesome!!!! I think theres a little too much negative space up top, but either way, awesome shot!

 

[trptmitch]

Thanks!! It does seem like there is a bit too much negative space at the top, and possibly the right hand side. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Garasaki]

Awesome shot.

I feel like my eye follows the photo from center off the the right, which is leaving my mind wondering why there is negative space on the left, and I keep returning to the left side feeling like I'm missing something?

My mind completely overlooks the negative space on the top.

 

[dannylightning]

man, that is a good one.

 

[trptmitch]

Awesome shot.

I feel like my eye follows the photo from center off the the right, which is leaving my mind wondering why there is negative space on the left, and I keep returning to the left side feeling like I'm missing something?

My mind completely overlooks the negative space on the top.

Could you propose a different crop that would work better for your eye?

 

[trptmitch]

man, that is a good one.

Thanks!! It was an awesome cloud. I was pleased with how it turned out!

 

[Garasaki]

I would want to see the entire picture before cropping to do a good job of it...

I messed around a bit with what you had posted but didn't really improve it. I'm imagining that there is more of the cloud off to the right in the full version?

If possible, I'd crop it so that the center of the illuminated storm clould (actually, looking again, the darkest part of the storm cloud is what I perceive as the center) was centered in the left 3rd of the pic, rather then centered in the center of the pic. With what you have posted, removing the some of the image on the left leaves the center of the storm in an awkward position, stuck somewhere between 1/3 and half from the left.

I can't come up with a top/bottom position without having more to the right.

After spending some time with it, this is what my eye does: Goes right to dark spot in center of storm, browses around at illuminated storm clouds, drifts off to the right, returns to the far left, goes to top. My mind has a hard time returning to the storm and I lose interest in it.

Taking what you posted, and cropping it in the following manner causes my eye to look at the center of the storm, browses the illuminated clouds, drift to the right, and always return to the center of the storm to rinse and repeat. My interest is actually held longer and I focus more on the interesting clouds and shadows in them.

Thanks for posting this, it has given me a really fun opportunity to really examine how I react to framing of a scene.

 

[trptmitch]

I'll post the original image for you tonight if I remember. It's amazing how we all see things differently, even in the same image. The most exciting part of the image to me is the thin light ring cloud that is to the top left of the main storm cloud. Also, I like the deep contrasting blue to the left of the main storm cloud to add tonal excitement to the image. Both of those things were cropped out in your take on it. Thanks for taking the time to play around with it. It helps me see other things in the image other than what my tunnel vision focuses on. Thanks again!!

 

[dannylightning]

That light ring cloud and the lighting inside of the main cloud are what i think make the pic awesome

 

[shefjr]

This is a sick image. I really like it and have nominated it for photo of the month!

 

[trptmitch]

This is a sick image. I really like it and have nominated it for photo of the month!

Wow. I'm honored! I'm glad you like it!

That light ring cloud and the lighting inside of the main cloud are what i think make the pic awesome

Agreed. That light ring cloud was the reason that I got my camera out in the first place.

 

[trptmitch]

I would want to see the entire picture before cropping to do a good job of it...

Ask and you shall receive... Here is the un-cropped and mostly unedited version. Let me know if you come up with a more pleasing framing of the cloud.

 

[petrochemist154 179]

Certainly an epic shot.
I also feel the ring cloud a strong part of the image and I find the house in the foreground helps it too.
Personally I find simply cropping out the excess at the top (my initial thought was just below the star on the left) leaves it with uncomfortable proportions. Subsequent gentle cropping of both sides can IMO bring the proportions to reasonable values without loosing anything from the image. (The left hand side can only loose a narrow slice while 3-4 times as much could be taken from the right.) Looking again I'm not sure that a more subtle crop from the top wouldn't be better though.