Many photographers say that light is the most important factor when it comes to taking pictures of landscapes.
I don't think that's quite right.
Clouds have the biggest impact. Technically speaking, sunlight is constant and never changes. Light is always visible, but the clouds determine how much light escapes to the earth below. Clouds diffuse the light to create magic. They reveal light to create amazing scenarios. Clouds themselves absorb light and become even more important subjects than the land below them. Their shapes create drama and mood. Often times, the story is lost without them.
Clouds often create what photographers call "God Beams"...and without them here, the scene just isn't quite the same.
The clouds are clustered and at a perfect height to let the setting sun color them.
A single cloud by itself stood out among a backdrop of heavier ones.
The clouds directed the light horizontally, lighting up the landscape.
Fluffy cotton ball clouds certainly make this image.
The perfect placement of these clouds cut the light in half, creating an intriguing splendid display of dramatic light.
This situation was quite strange as an isolated supercell grew and become quite scary-looking.
This shot was taken from my very front door, and the sky was painted in extraordinary colors.
The holes in the clouds created dramatic beams of light, adding to the drama of the wonderful seascape.
You better be sure that when there are strange cloud conditions forming, I'm most likely running around with my camera or staring obsessively at it waiting for the moment I can.
