This was one of those bright winter days when the lenticular clouds above Mount Shasta changed on an hourly basis. This is one of my favorites from that day....
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This was one of those bright winter days when the lenticular clouds above Mount Shasta changed on an hourly basis. This is one of my favorites from that day.
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jonb4016
February 08, 2021
Hope that’s not aliens, you know they eat the fat ones first! Well, gotta run! I’ve seen this type of cloud before, but nothing of this ones class! Beautiful!
Welburn
December 14, 2021
The saucer clouds are lenticular. When there are many it is a lenticular stack.
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Behind The Lens
Location
There are certain places in our town of Mt. Shasta, where no power lines leer overhead. This little turn around is near our hospital. If you hold the camera just so, no power lines, fencing or parked cars show in the photo. The Aspen trees threaten but break off during heavier snow. I drive by this spot most days, some times with tires squealing to get the shot.Time
This photo was taken around noon. Full winter sun makes great contrast in the lenticular cloud stack and on the mountain top.Lighting
This mountain, Mount Shasta, is a moody beauty. In morning, the sun rises from right to left with unobstructed exposure. At mid-day the sun shines overhead. If there are no clouds/contrast, a white mountain reflects too much light for good exposure during mid-day. These stacked clouds, caused by varying winds, called lenticular clouds give a temperature gage of shadowy depth. When the sun sets to the west (left) a mountain feature called Mt. Eddy quickly closes down sunset.Equipment
I always carry my cell phone, but somedays I have a little point and shoot Canon. I use the window frame of my car door to stabilize the lens. I often take 6 exposures or more, and hope to get a good shot with my cell phone.Inspiration
I have a long, photographic love affair with this mountain. I started taking digital pictures of Mount Shasta after seeing a painting by Western Master, Frank Tenny Johnson. The title of that painting is "Snow on Jim Mountain", it but it IS Mount Shasta. A photo taken late in the season from the fish hatchery even shows one of the cotton wood trees that are in the painting. After starting this proof of discovery, I was hooked on photography. This place is deeply engrained with natural beauty. Why not take pictures!Editing
I often post process. In this particular photo I enhanced the contrast of the shadows of the lenticular cloud stack and the very top of the mountain. I try to be very neat and accurate when doing such correction. I try not to over do and loose the flavor of the shot.In my camera bag
I love my big Canon DSLR and take it when I plan to do a formal shoot of breath-taking Mount Shasta, a shield volcano with 5 layers of eruptions. I always have my cell phone camera and I love my little Canon PAS. Occasionally I shoot early mornings and take my multi adjustable tripod.Feedback
Shooting photos of Mount Shasta is easy. Just find a good view point and click away. However, the moods change about every 15 minutes on a cloudy day. Be prepared to wait awhile. A warm hat and coat, gloves or mitts and a flagon of coffee might do well to make that 15 minutes more comfortable. If you are in Mt. Shasta there are many public locations to take photos where the view is unobstructed by power lines, communication towers and roof tops. If you walk or drive around slowly you will find them. Your photos will be much better for a little time taken to set up the shot.