by Steve Tanham
When Sue Vincent was with us, we used to share the admonition ‘Look up!’
For her, it was about finding the most interesting and, often, secret clues to a church’s past. She had taught herself to scan a building very quickly, then to home in on the details that had been revealed.
For me, it was all about the sky. The most fantastic forms and textures glide over our heads throughout the day, but how many of us regularly look up at their splendour?
The rapid development of the mobile phone means we always have the ability to capture images in our pockets. This is not true of the professional, who still has to carry a bulky camera (or two) to get the best results.
The Pro is working towards a use of the image that requires high definition, whereas we amateurs usually post our images on social media, where we get away with having a lower resolution as long as the composition works.
Clouds fascinate me. The infinite variety of light and colour can completely change the landscape below, in seconds.
Sometimes, there is drama too…
In the opening shot, I was walking the collie on one of the beaches at Morecambe when I noticed that the light was changing rapidly. I looked up to see a vertical wall of dark mist, looking for all the world as though it was growing out of the Midland Hotel,
So, with Tess in hot pursuit, and knowing that these things can last only for seconds, I ran down the beach towards the retreating sea to get a wider angle shot that would reveal what was going on.
When I saw the vast cloud system unfolding in the sky above, I knew we had something dramatic. A few minutes later, we also had a storm so violent that it was turning sand grains into bullets.
Sometimes we have to suffer for our art!
©Stephen Tanham 2024
All photos taken and processed on an iPhone 12 ProMax.
Stephen Tanham is a writer-photographer and mystical teacher. He is the founding Director of the Silent Eye, which offers an exciting journey of the soul guided by lessons, inner experience and outer companionship.
There are two blog streams:
(mystically-oriented writing)
and
(general interest, poetry, humour and travel)
Sun in Gemini 
I love the sky it can go from being calm and blue as blue to a dramatic mass of dark, and light in a trice…a cauldron bubbling away…fabulous shot Steve x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Carol. It was really dramatic, especially seeing the bigger and more violent picture emerge from ‘behind the hotel! 😊 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
That brooding sky looks wonderfully impressive – great capture, Steve! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ruth ❤️ it was quite a moment. Mind you, I suffered for it in the minutes that followed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fabulous photo Steve. ..Did you get soaked?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rather, sand-blasted, Willow! Thank you ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a very dramatic sky. Not surprised that a storm followed. A great shot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Darlene. There was a lot of energy up there! 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bless 💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
And Tess was a little perturbed, too! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! bless. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh, what a dramatic cloud, Steve. And what a storm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was glad to get back to the car, Michael. But Morecambe is famous for it. I remember taking the boys roller-blading along the prom, years ago, and getting trapped at the wrong end by an incoming dark cloud system off the sea. By the time we made the car, 40 mins later, we were saturated and frozen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful wispy clouds this morning when I went out to put the trash in the bin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s settling down, now, Alethea. But we’ve had quite a ride this past few weeks 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad it’s starting to settle down. Our early spring was a bit erratic here as well. Two major snow and ice storms followed by lots of rain. The weather certainly is changing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Steve, I remember both Sue and Mary Smith saying look up when you tour. I miss them both very much. Like you, I’m always looking at clouds. I miss things on the ground 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Robbie. Fine memories x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sue frequently noticed birds too, as I recall. When I hear what sounds like an eagle I always look up and often see one of those impressive birds circling overhead. Then I have to be careful because I get dizzy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. She seemed to have birds with her, constantly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always look up when I hear birds. But then I’m always looking up at building details too. I have to be careful not to bump into things.
You do find wonderful skies with your camera.
Sue is sorely missed by me, every day. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kerfe. I do love skies. Sue took photos all the time, but her passion was old churches with ‘a story’ … and stone circle. All shared with Stuart, of course ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person