Click here for a larger view                  Photo courtesy of Roger Kirby.

Terrible storms have terrified man and beast ever since the dawn of time, yet there is something strangely beautiful and intriguing about them. In the midst of ominous clouds, howling winds and driving rain, one can often also find a sense of peace and wonder while witnessing the awesome power of nature being unleashed in all its fury. I believe the Creator sends storms our way to remind us that when all is said and done, He and He alone is truly in charge of the world and its elements.

Today’s picture was taken by Roger Kirby as he watched the terrifying beauty of a thunderstorm build over the Florida coastline.

Click here for a larger view                Photo courtesy of NASA.

At first glance, today’s picture might seem rather blah and uninteresting, but in reality it is really something quite special. Why? Because this is the view we would enjoy if we were to gaze up into the heavens from the surface of planet Mercury instead of our Earth. The robotic spacecraft Messenger captured this image about three months ago while looking back towards the Earth and Moon, and it shouldn’t be all that difficult to find those familiar bodies in the picture.

Thanks to our ever-growing fleet of robotic explorers, we can not only ”see” farther (and more clearly) into the vastness of space than ever before, we can also see our own neck of the celestial “woods” from vantage points that could only have existed in our imaginations just a few short years ago.

Click here for a larger view                Photo and narrative by Duncan Andison.

This photo was taken on route to the summit of Triglav in Slovenia. I was watching a few climbers through my 100-400 lens. We were heading up there the next day and I was looking for the route, and of course taking a few shots at the same time. Then, this gentleman came along and decided to rest up and get his camera out. With the clouds swirling around the three ridges it presented the ideal shot to sum up how small you feel when you are on a narrow ridge many thousands of feet up.

Here are the camera and settings used to capture this image:

Camera: Canon 5D MK II
Lens: Canon 100-400L
Focal length: 275mm
Shutter speed: 1/500th second
Aperture: f/7.1
ISO: 250

To see more of my images, please visit http://takenfromthetop.com.

Click here for a larger view                Photo and narrative by Amber S. Wallace.

As a photographer, you DREAM of the time that you capture wonderful photos. Sometimes, you walk miles of trails to find that one mountain waterfall that you have been waiting to capture.  Sometimes, you drive across states to see a wide-open canyon that is just calling your camera’s name. And, sometimes…you don’t have to go anywhere at all - a great photographic moment just falls right in your lap.

I was photographing Travis & Ashleigh’s wedding this month and during the ceremony I was thinking of the angles and light that I was trying to find for a beautiful, elegant photo. (That’s generally what photographers are thinking and studying during a wedding.) It was during that “elegant/wedding” thought process that little Tyler got away from his grandmother’s grasp and found a great location at the front of the ceremony to work on his doodlepad. Now, for some people, this would be an “OH, NO” moment. But for a photographer, the unexpected–falls right in your lap — a photo that is, by far, the most wonderful photo you can capture.  For a photographer, this “OH, NO” moment is really a “OH, THAT”S AWESOME AND I CAN’T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY
CAUGHT THAT ON FILM!!” moment. 

To view more of my photos, please visit my online gallery.

Photo and narrative by Winston “Rocky” Rockwell.

Sunbeam Creek flows down the flanks of Mount Rainier not far from the famed Reflection Lakes, and while many people stop along the road to admire the 15-foot high lower falls, which are right next to the road, it’s rare for anyone to venture beyond the pavement to explore a little farther upstream. Which is a shame, because with just a little extra scrambling over some rocks, one can see so much more…

Above the lower falls, the stream flows over a series of small cascades lined with mossy rocks and wildflowers, and a little farther up, the “Upper Sunbeam Falls” is visible – it may be only 10 or 12 feet high, but it’s a lovely little falls, and well worth the extra effort to see. It’s barely visible from the road, and most folks probably never even know it’s there… I didn’t myself till I got away from the road and climbed upstream a little way. But I’m glad I did! The upper falls is so much prettier and more serene than the lower – a perfect spot for a picnic lunch, and perhaps a good book…

As I reluctantly made my way back downstream to the lower falls and the road, I had to marvel yet again at the incredible beauty God has put on this earth for us to enjoy. Fortunately, spots like this are preserved in our wonderful national parks, so our children and their children in turn will still be able to enjoy that beauty for themselves.

For photographers, it’s best to visit this spot in early morning. By midday, the stream is in harsh sunlight, and stays bright until sundown. this was taken with my usual set-up: a Canon 5D and Tamron 24-135 lens at 24mm with a polarizer, 1 second at f/8.

To see more of my images, please visit www.northwestnaturalimagery.com.

Photo and narrative by Rick Rouse.

Cheria, my cousin Catherine and I were talking with my mom the other day when my brother Roger walked into the house with a magic bean. Well, it wasn’t really a magic bean of course, but it sure wasn’t like any green bean that we had ever seen. As it turns out, Roger had planted some Asian Yardlong Beans in his garden back in the spring, and they had finally reached maturity. We were all just amazed at the sight of the monster veggie and I simply had to take a picture of Mom holding it in her hand. I didn’t have my camera with me so I pulled out my Samsung Moment smart phone and started snapping away.

True to their name, Asian Yardlong Beans grow up to 3 feet in length, but they are best for cooking if picked before they reach that size. This one measured 25 and a half inches. Whether they are tasty or not is yet to be determined, but these “magic” beans sure do make for some interesting conversation. And for an absolutely wonderful lady who has grown, picked, canned and cooked many bushels of green beans over the course of her 8+ decades of life on planet earth, this one certainly made for a great ending to a hot summer afternoon.