DSLRUsers.com

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:02 pm**

Hi everyone!

It has been such a long time since I have posted pics, so here are some from my very first storm chase last weekend into NSW (Wagga area) with a storm chasing friend.

Wow, what an experience! I had a fantastic time, learnt more than I could ever imagine, and saw some beautiful parts of Australia! In case you are wondering...I didn't get any lightning pics, as it was a little too infrequent, but, there is always next time!

I'm still getting my head around Photoshop, and these were all adjusted using curves (my 1st time), so critique away, but please be gentle, still a relative newbie when it comes to digital! :wink:

___

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:07 pm**

Hi Jane,
Nice to see you pposting again. I like the last one best!!

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:21 pm**

Hi Jane, I like #1, #2 and #6.

#1 Reminds me of the WinXP theme background (but with a fence). I like the green and blue in contrast, with the fence setting off the shot. I also like the off-centre composition of the fence post.

#2 Not sure exactly why I like this shot, the old rustic fence wins me over, the sky isn't so great in this one (for me)

#6 Is a great shot of the rain and thunderclouds.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:58 pm**

I like the last pic a lot

Did you see the storms around Melbourne on Fri. night?

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:05 pm**

Which lens did you use for this? The last image is awesome. So is the first.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:10 pm**

Nothing wrong with those, Jane, I like all of them. I'm always a sucker for sky shots.

Bob.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:13 pm**

Your first image is the most appealing it is composed thoughtfully - well in my book. A nice contrast between the green pasture and the lovely blue sky offset nicely by harshness of the fence and good that you did not centre the pole, offcentre makes it more interesting and gives the image more dimension. One suggestion is to make the green grass a tad vivid same goes for the last one.
Image 3 is very interesting in the far background you can see the full storm and in the foreground the sun breaking through this image has the most potential, maybe it was just a case of waiting longer for more sun to break out to get a more dramatic image, but maybe it wasn't going to.

Were you using a CPL filter?

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:20 pm**

I like the last the most, I really love big brooding clouds. There was an article in the newspaper (center) about storms and some guy caught this massive cloud in the center of the bay.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:27 pm**

Jane, love the first two

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:30 pm**

STORM CHASERS... now that sounds like fun.

It would be the last one for me Jane. Nice shots and good luck for a big lightning shot on the next trip!

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:18 pm**

Thankyou all for your wonderful comments!

Geoff - Nice to be back! Thanks!

Alpha_7 - Thanks! #1 is actually a crop, the original has the post smack bang in the middle :oops:

. Don't know why I took it that way initially! I love #2 as well, and the sky had completely clouded over, so it's not terribly appealing, but I love old rusty things too!

Piro - Did I see the storms around Melbourne on Friday Night?? Oh, yeah, baby!! :wink:

Neeper - I think for all of these images I used the kit lens, on about 18mm, which is why some of the horizon's look dodgy!

Moggy - Thanks!

Wendellt - The first is one of my favs too, although it is a crop, and the original is centered! Can't believe I actually took it that way as I usually try to get a different angle! Cropping is such a wonderful thing!! :wink:

I know exactly what you mean about the sun beginning to poke through in #3, but I can't recall it happening! All I had on the end of the glass was a UV insurance policy! CPL is on my wish list though!

Kipper - Love big brooding clouds too (specially when they drop hail or produce a funnel!)

Glen - Thanks!

Jonesy - Yes, storm chasing is fun, so I have discovered! But an awfull lot of driving to your 'target area', and waiting for something to happen. Saw some amazing places though!

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:37 pm**

I also like them all. However I am a sucker for the big fluffy ones (are they cumulus?).

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:11 pm**

Stormy, storm chasing is something that I'd like to do, not here though in America

I'd love to be able to setup a tripod (if you have time) and get a shot of a twister.
Could you imagine it. Green wheatfields, with hills, a quaker style farm house and a great big twister bearing down on it!

K I've been watching Twister too much.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:17 pm**

Nicole - Thanks, yes the big fluffy cauliflower looking ones are cumulus!

Kipper - Nothing wrong with watching Twister, one of my fav fims! Although meteorologically speaking it's full of holes! :wink:

....and I too would love to go to the great plains of America!

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:25 pm**

Number 5 is my favourite....I like the cloud opening above the house.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:04 pm**

Stormy, don't worry I don't think of it as a documentary. I just treat it as a good cgi/action flick involving weather related topics. Something to sit down while drinking a bottle of red etc

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:21 pm**

Maybe we could have a mini meet in Tornado Alley in the states!

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:25 pm**

Hey Jane,
been seing your posts on weatherzone. im a mad weathernut as well. you should speak with raydar in lismore, he gets some great images. maybe also dave ellum, one of the best. As you probablly know all the links if you dont PM me iv'e got bucket loads here and in the states. Nice shots though and i bet you can't wait for the next ECL or maybe i shoudnt say if your in melbourne! HA

jethro

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:32 pm**

Jamie, Raydar in lismore???

Isn't that the Raydar that's on this forums

ps. I'm not talking about Radar (Andre).

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:35 pm**

Darryl,
Raydar yes is in Lismore, Goonellabah to be exact
jethro

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:37 pm**

Thought so, just hadn't seen him post in a while but do remember him posting a while back and swore that the location was lismore.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:40 pm**

Hi jethro, Yes I know you're a zoner, and I've just become a moderator there, so watch out!! :wink:

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:41 pm**

HA! haven't been on for a while but been looking and studying

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:48 pm**

How funny are the sat morning posts regardin the thunder.
I almost had a heart attack when the thunder cracked over the house.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:56 pm**

Darryl,
I love a good storm and the feeling in the air. makes you feel alive, must be the ionisation in the atmosphere
jethro

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:57 pm**

Lol the guys on weatherzone tracking the storm cell on the fri/sat are funny.

It's like straight out of Twister. I could imagine theme all in a red pickup driving like mad to drop off Dorothy.

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:59 pm**

Same here, when I got my camera last year I tried to take photos of the ligthning storm that we had. I dunno what it is about the air/wind but it feels different to normal.