Not the Usual Sunset

[JohnC]

I saw the sky turning orange about 3.40 today  and dashed up the local hill. I managed to catch some of it. The wind was quite strong and I had to hang on to the tripod- yes, even in these conditions I had the tripod up    I saw the hail and snow getting closer and the penultimate photo shows that. I took the shot, rapidly put the gear in the bag and legged it but I was too far from the car not to get caught in it and I was in a blizzard of swirling hail and snow-amazing. We;re certainly experiencing extremes these days - good though  .

My sensor needs cleaning,it's smeared , I've tried to do it myself but to no avail, I'm losing good shots-some taken today at this location but I've posted one of each phase of the front as it hit. I'll have to take the camera to Bristol and have it  professionally  cleaned.

[DaveH64]

Nice series John, like the view in the first added to the cloud structure and red tinge, very nice.

[rjgjr]

Great set of photos John. You can sure tell the weather closed in fast! Good luck with the sensor cleaning.

[JohnC]

Thanks both. I  originally had 7 lined up  but I looked again at the sensor smears on a few already to post  after I'd written  the text. I may as well add them and you can see the structure  that looks like an elephant foot (as well as the sensor problem )and I cropped the far left bit  of dirt out too from the setting sun. All the photos (except the car  and the sun setting were facing north/northeast. I forgot to mention that when I arrived the level of light wasn't too bad as you can see by the bit of blue sky but as I ran up and down the small hillocks  (and believe me I  really ran lol) over the  hill  back to the  car it went as dark as night ,I took the car photo to show the difference.I had to wait for the main blast to diminish before I could get out of the car,it was quite an experience, it was like you'd imaging being thrown into a wasing machine but quite exhilarating nevertheless.

[Conor McDonald]

Beautiful shots John! I really like that first one 

[JohnC]

Cheers,Conor. Had I got there a few minutes earlier there was more of the sky in the first photo, that colour.

[markt]

Nice shots John!

[Anton]

Beautiful images John the colour variation within the clouds looks really good.

Thanks

[martinastro]

You where in the rite place at the rite time for these John, beautiful images  . The first one is excellent with the beefy cloud structure and colours. Like the road action shoots too with the car. Great to see everybody out documenting this severe cold spell  .

[JohnC]

Thanks all. Yes, we  certainly have a good  photo gallery and record  here of all this weather,Martin. Mind you, the photos from NI are awesome.