In the Arizona desert, we can go weeks and even months with cloudless blue skies.  This is great for the tourist snapshot, but not for the dramatic landscape photograph.

So when the forecast was for clouds and a chance of a thunderstorm, we couldn’t resist. Less than an hour from us is the rugged Superstition Mountain, an impressive scene and, hopefully tonight, it would have dramatic skies. We packed up the gear and headed out for a sunset shoot. Enroute across the valley we could see dark storm clouds and rain over the mountain. Never mind that we had no rain gear, the key question was, “Would there be light?”

The rain moved off.  We still had an hour before sunset when we settled into position below the mountain. No flowers for a foreground and the light was flat. No sun could be found.

As we hoped for the sun to break through the clouds, lightning struck not too far away. I’m thinking, “we shouldn’t be out on this ridge,” while Jeff’s thinking, “I should have bought a lightning trigger for my camera.”  As you can see, Jeff’s always thinking about cool photography gear. And, I am sure he will be purchasing the lightning trigger real soon.

A few moments later, I could see the rain moving across the mountain face and down to our location. We sprinted for the car and reached it just as the skies opened above us.

Now Jeff’s thinking, “This shoot’s a bust,” while I’m thinking, “Sit tight, the best is yet to come.” Patience is the friend of a landscape photographer.

Sure enough the rain passed and the sun broke through for a minute. We rushed out of the car.

The sun illuminated the Cholla Cactus on the left, ignoring the mountain for a bit.

The sun illuminated the Cholla Cactus on the left, ignoring the mountain for a bit.

 

One moment the cactus on the left was well illuminated, then the light shifted onto the mountain.

One moment the cactus on the left was well illuminated, then the light shifted onto the mountain.

The storm had passed, but the cloud cover remained. We hung around another 20 minutes hoping for the sun to break though  again. And we were rewarded with this:

The sun peaked through the clouds for just a few seconds, lighting up the mountain.

The sun peaked through the clouds for just a few seconds, lighting up the mountain.

Once again, it’s all about the light, and clouds don’t hurt either!