Nothing about this day was planned. I was camping with friends in a remote area of Colorado when I woke to a beautiful stormy sky overhead. The light from the sunrise was blasting the clouds above me, painting them in brilliant colors. It was still raining in multiple areas around me as the clouds blew across the peaks and valleys, creating an ever-changing canvas of light and shadow.
I quickly launched my drone from the campsite and discovered rainbows at both ends of the valley. My heart raced as I realized I needed to leave my campsite for a better vantage point. I packed up quickly and headed down a short 4×4 trail, my anticipation building with each turn. A few miles down the road, I came to a junction where many other photographers had gathered that morning, all of us drawn by the same amazing display.
I flew the drone again for a few minutes, but then realized there were better shots to be captured with my camera. This photo is a full-frame capture with my zoom lens at 259mm. The storm clouds and light seemed to dance across the peaks surrounding me, creating dramatic contrasts between darkness and brilliance. I found myself spinning around, taking photos in every direction, not wanting to miss a single moment of this stormy morning.
The entire experience was dynamic and exhilarating. Sometimes the best photographs come from being present and ready when nature puts on an unexpected show. This morning reminded me why I love landscape photography. Those unplanned moments when everything comes together perfectly.
