This week, the El Nino weather system has really hit Southern California. Â While most people were heading for cover, I knew that there would be small openings of really dramatic weather.
Heading home from the office, I knew I had hit the jackpot. Â I was armed with my backup camera body due to my recent camera accident, and I was using my Nikon 20mm 1.8 lens on a crop sensor, so it really was about a 30mm equivalent on a full-frame system.
Lightroom’s recent addition of the panoramic export is excellent, and with less than ideal equipment, this was a great opportunity to use it!
The resulting image was a 28 image panorama that Lightroom had no issue stitching together. Â As you can see, the last light as the huge, high, clouds towered over Santee Lakes was amazing. Â The yellows on the high clouds got deeper and deeper just after sunset, before the light vanished all at once! Â Those are the brief moments that build memories. Â As always, it is great to own your own backyard, and have a good, quick, place to go when you are at home and the light sets up perfectly.
This view is from the Mast Blvd bridge look North over Santee Lakes 2 and 3. Â The clouds to the South of the bridge were dark and gloomy, which could have been a different but interesting image. Â I wanted to chase the light though, and the opening to the North was too much to pass up.
It still amazes me how much people miss the connection between so-called bad weather and the resulting images. Â Be safe, but get out there and brave the elements! Â your portfolio will thank you.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the image!
T.M. Schultze is a San Diego-based photographer, traveller, and writer. He writes, photographs, and draws things of the outdoors that have inspired humans for thousands of years. He co-authored the Photographer’s Guide to Joshua Tree Park which can be purchased here.
