Thor's Anvil

Posted by Eric Fry (Houston, TX, United States) on 13 July 2008 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.

This is the same storm as yesterday's photo, taken just after the anvil head began to form. I went back to the house shortly after this. Ten minutes later, the rain and wind began, and my friend and I settled in for a day of watching lightning from the porch.

This anvil head formed just above where the lightning was in Yesterday's photo. It reached all the way across the field of that shot, and struck in the area of the houses on the shoreline at the bottom left. I figured if it was reaching out that far, it might be time for me to get back to some shelter! ;)

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you all have a great day,
Eric

Check out the photography of a friend of mine outside of Aminus3:
Brian Dykes' Blue Echoes Photography - Beautiful nature and city images from the guy that turned me on to Adobe Lightroom

vfxy Photoblogs

Comments (20)

Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States

Oh, Eric - if yesterday's post was your favorite - what is this? What a thrilling capture - I can but imagine the adrenaline coursing through you on the beach that morning - what a rush. This is spiritual.

13 Jul 2008 5:20am

@Stephen Phillips: Thank so very much, Stephen! That morning was one of the best I've ever had in my life. Awe-inspiring view of a storm, a good breakfast, and great company...Now I just need to figure out how to make every day like that one...

saeed from ahwaz, Iran

Really wonderful and right at moment! really great shot! colours of clouds are amazing! nicely seen and done dear Eric!

13 Jul 2008 5:36am

@saeed: Thank you so very much, my friend! Tomorrow's photo is dedicated to you and the inspiration you've brought me!

hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong

Stunning capture!!!

13 Jul 2008 9:27am

@hugo poon: Thank you very much, Hugo!

Veronelle from Lens, France

nice and great capture

13 Jul 2008 10:02am

@Veronelle: Merci beaucoup pour vous commentaire, Veronelle!

Earnest from Oklahoma, United States

Excellent again... and glad you went to the house afterward. The lightning in Houston is very dangerous. I've seen it jump miles from a thunderhead to ground. I've never seen this sort of phenomenon anywhere else though I know it occurs.

13 Jul 2008 12:44pm

@Earnest: Thank you very much, Earnest. And I've never seen lightning behave in other places the way it does here. I've read about it happening, but in North and West Texas, it goes pretty much straight to the ground. Watching the storm move in that morning, I got a pretty good sense of the scale of distance I was looking at; as I clicked that photo from the tripod, I could see my screen and the whole scene at the same time, and I knew that it had jumped well over two miles. As an old friend used to say, "I might be some dumb, but I'm not plumb dumb!"

Have a great day, bud!

lisa v from Gawler, Australia

Um..yeah..time to take cover. I can't get over how clear the lightning looks.

13 Jul 2008 1:12pm

@lisa v: Thanks, Lisa. It's almost like the lightning burns itself into the sensor...

Ekaputra Tupamahu from Malang, Indonesia

again... you post a great shot! fantastic image....

13 Jul 2008 1:53pm

@Ekaputra Tupamahu: Thank you very much, Ekaputra!

Daniel from Kenmare, United States

impressive

13 Jul 2008 2:30pm

@Daniel: Thank you, Daniel!

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States

simply beautiful and brooding! what tones! bravo!

13 Jul 2008 2:47pm

@dj.tigersprout: Thanks, DJ!

Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom

realy good shot, so hard to take, but you got a realy good one here.

13 Jul 2008 3:56pm

@Alun Lambert: Thank you very much, Alun!

Pedram from Esfahan, Iran

excellent . . . !

13 Jul 2008 3:59pm

@Pedram: Thank you, Pedram!

Kelela from Upland, United States

This is stunning; so much drama with beautiful colors and contrast! Love it.

13 Jul 2008 4:19pm

@Kelela: Thank you so much, Kelela!

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

Awesome power there Eric, but sitting on the porch and watching sounds real cosy. Great image, lovely color too.

13 Jul 2008 5:44pm

@Observing: Thanks, Mike, and it was a very relaxing day...I hated to come back to the hustle and bustle of the big city :(

yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece

great catch, colors and sky

13 Jul 2008 5:48pm

@yiannis krikis: Thank you, Yiannis!

Craig from Vacaville, California, United States

Great timing and wonderful colors and light! I would consider moving the watermark to the side if I was you. But then, I'm not.

13 Jul 2008 9:58pm

@Craig: Thanks, Craig!

willow from Chelsea, United States

Wow! I've always wanted to capture lightening and here you've already done it so beautifully! The colors in the clouds really add drama and offset the lighter skies ahead of the storm. Great shot!

14 Jul 2008 1:17am

@willow: Thank you, Willow! It's not very difficult to catch lightning, just time-consuming and being in the right position. I really did spend more time deleting photos than I did processing the three that had some lightning in them...All you have to do is keep mashing the button!