Keeping watch.
This thunderhead was forming over Cuba, near the Islands of the Queen. I shot this from the deck of our dive boat. This preceded a full scale hurricane that hit...
Read more
This thunderhead was forming over Cuba, near the Islands of the Queen. I shot this from the deck of our dive boat. This preceded a full scale hurricane that hit three days later just after we departed.
Read less
Read less
Feb, 2017Views
256
Likes
Top Ranks
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 20 rank
Top 20 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This was shot Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) National Park, south of Cuba. This has been a protected marine park for many years and only allows 1000 divers a year.Time
We were diving off of a live aboard dive boat that allows as many dives as you want to make. The last dive of the day leaves at dusk and dives after sunset. This was late in the week, and I decided to take sit this dive out. I was watching this amazing thunder head develop for a couple of hours. This was the perfect time about 6:00 pm as the setting sun gave this golden glow to clouds and the tanks.Lighting
This perfect light only lasted a few minutes. I love the warm tone on the scene.Equipment
I shot this with a Sony a-65 DSLR with a Sigma 18-300 zoom lens at 18mm.Inspiration
The light and the incredible size of this thunderhead was spectacular. I experienced an overwhelming sense of the power of this storm. It was interesting noting the boats leaving the area for sheltered places to anchor. Our crew began quickly preparing our boat to leave. This storm was the prelude to a hurricane Matthew that did billions of dollars of damage to the island.Editing
I leveled the scene a did a minor crop. The color is very close to what was shot, although I did increase contrast a bit. I usually try a number of variations to get to the emotional response that I had to what I'm photographing. Sometimes it may be week or months before I relive the scene mentally to understand and define how I felt at that time.In my camera bag
This was a trip that did not allow for a much equipment, beyond the Camera body, the 18-300 Sigma lens and an additional 28-75 f2.8 Tamron zoom lens. On many international trips, this would be typical. I do carry extra bodies, ND filters and a 11-16 wide angle lens and tripod.Feedback
This type of storm is pretty frequent during the hurricane season. I think the best advice is to be patient and work with the light as it changes. I had a number of shots of just the thunderhead, but felt a lower angle including the tanks and more of the calm ocean water better told the story and added a human element. I try to make sure that a photograph expands and tells the story. I live in Colorado, and we get similar towering storms that reward a photographer.
