Prairie Storm: Dark Clouds, Heavy Rain and a Lightning Strike
This location, just west of Calgary, is one of my favourite places to photograph during the winter months when the sun sets behind the southern edge of the Canadian Rockies. Last night, a massive storm broke free of the mountains and stretched across the prairie. There were some great holes in the clouds that allowed sunlight to streak through here and there. A very dramatic scene to work with and create images of.
Behind the ominous forerunning clouds came the heavy rain. Here the rain is hammering Bragg Creek and moving quickly onto the fields.
As the storm’s intensity built, lightning seemed inevitable and I was lucky to catch this strike hitting along the Elbow River behind a hill in Redwood Meadows.
When the rain did arrive where I was photographing, cover in the car was the prudent option. It was no exaggeration to say this was a torrential downpour.
Christopher Martin Photography 
Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap? – then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail: He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away from whom He pleases, the vivid flash of His lightning well-nigh blinds the sight. (43) Holy Qur’an Surat An-Nur
April 2, 2021 at 2:25 am
I drove home from Cluny in that storm last night – yellow canola fields and dark black clouds and me without my camera. It was a wonderful storm!
July 20, 2011 at 4:09 pm
These are great! I love them all! Great composition and adjustments, great opportunity too!
July 20, 2011 at 3:49 pm
This is a great post! I love when clouds are in the foreground. Lots of drama here!
July 20, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Thank you Jennifer. It was a pretty impressive storm.
July 20, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Right
November 29, 2020 at 11:46 pm