I have admired many a photograph featuring beautiful cloud formations and colors. My attempts at trying to capture the beauty of clouds had been disappointing until last weekend. While attending a concert on Paper Mill Island in Baldwinsville, New York, I noticed these clouds being lighted by the setting Sun.
Clouds in the distance being lighted by the setting Sun to the east of the village of Baldwinsville, New York, on Saturday, July 17, 2010.
Using my venerable Nikon 18-200VR lens, I switched to manual mode and exposed for the brightest of the clouds and zoomed in to focus on the area above the Seneca River bridge.
Clouds as seen from Paper Mill Island in Baldwinsville, New York, on Saturday, July 17, 2010. Nikon D70, 18-200VR, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 105mm focal length.
I zoomed in further to photograph this most interesting area of the beautifully lighted clouds. For another beautiful cloudscape, visit Birgitte’s post called A view.
Cloudscape by Scott Thomas Photography. Nikon D70, 18-200VR, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 170mm focal length.
Views Infinitum 
Those are gorgeous! (And you can’t beat that famous Nikon color, right? 😉 )
As much as I hate TX, you do see the most amazing clouds here, and I’ve been thinking of a separate 365 blog with just cloud pictures…. that of course would require me to have my camera with me at all times!
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Thank you and I didn’t have to tweak these photo too much. Nature was very generous that evening.
That would be a fun project, Michaela. Sign me up!
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Oh wow, the colour of the last two shots is absolutely gorgeous! What a magnificient sight.
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It sure was. I just about jumped out of the lawn chair I was in when I noticed them.
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Fantastic!
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Aptly put, KD.
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These clouds are beautiful!
Your comments makes me wonder: Why do you call your 18-200 vulnerable?
I used to use -0.5EV on my D80 to eliminate burnouts. Interesting that you get these shots with EV +0.3.
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Well…that’s because I used the wrong word, Carsten. 🙂 I have updated the post. I’d blame the spellchecker but it it was the typist.
People complained about the D70 underexposing so when Nikon came out with the D80, they fixed that problem. Of course, then people complained the D80 overexposed. 😀 Most people learn to compensate with the EV (exposure compensation) button like you and I do.
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Great shots! Clouds create such beauty at the beginning and the end of the day! Great job here.
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Thanks…the sunset and the clouds distance from it worked out perfectly.
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These are great shots. I normally have to underexpose to get that sort of colour in sunset clouds.
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It depends on the camera. The Nikon D70 is known for underexposing at EV 0 so I usually shooting at +0.3 and above.
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It was great seeing those clouds live, and seeing them again brings back good memories of the evening.
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Until the bugs showed up. 🙂
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Ooooh—-love me some clouds. Beautiful shots!
Cindy
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Just another one of water’s many splendid forms. These clouds are as summery as cotton candy.
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Now I’m hungry! LOL
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Ooooo-Weeee! Clouds on fire! I especially like that first one because it’s an in-town sunset, proving once more that great skyscapes happen everywhere.
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Gorgeous Scott, I take note of you ISO 200, I know how to adjust it manually on my camera now. 🙂
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Nye, ISO 200 is the lowest Nikon digital cameras go. Canons go to ISO 100, if possible, use the lowest ISO you can to cut down on digital noise.
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Thanks Scott, most of my shots that I used the auto setting were at ISO 200-400 and I’m glad that I know how to adjust it now, still more reading to do.
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Oh, Nye, we got to get you out of the Green Box (Auto mode). 🙂
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Scott, I know, I think I’m ready. 🙂
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Those shots turned out beautifully, Scott! Nice stuff!
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Amazing coloured clouds ! They bring such a wonderful contrast in the sky or over the urban landscape. Fabulous shots !
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Yowzers! As someone said above, clouds on fire! Great shots and I especially like the last photo with the cloud dragon riding off in the horizon. 🙂
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Funny you should say that, Anna. Someone mentioned that thought it looked like Pete’s Dragon from the Disney movie of the same name.
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I like the first and last photo best – especially the contrast in colours in the lower one. Brill!
🙂
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I’m having a digital summer-break these days, but when I saw these pictures of cloudscapes – I just have to tell you how incredible beautiful they are!!! And also great inspiration and pictures in your post “Two Photos for every Scene”. I hope you enjoy the summer over there!
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