Dramatic Stormy Skies

This is another example of a minimalistic image that packs a serious punch. The storm approaches like a tidal wave, yet the foreground is a picture of calm and peace. I love the way the tidal streams reflect the darkness that approaches and the thin line of waves separating the two distinct zones.

The vision of a storm coming ashore like a wave is ominous and even more dramatic when shot on a flat and open beach like this. This is an image that capitalizes on composition, creating even more drama for the viewer. Very well done.

This is a really impressive monochrome image. The sky is ominous and nearly black, perfectly contrasting with the lighthouse and the grasses in the foreground. The drama is further intensified by the cropping of the image. The cropped image compresses the storm and provides tension to the viewer. Very well done!

At first I must admit to having been indecisive about this image because of how dark it is overall. The more I looked at it and studied the intensity and details, the more I became enthralled by the drama and chaotic nature of that very same darkness. Really great artistic imagery brings emotion to the viewer and what I realized was that my initial discomfort was exactly the emotion that this image should have caused. The break in the clouds gives hope to the viewer and a relief that the chaos will come to an end. Well done! This is one of the images that would love to hand large on my wall and study every day.

This is an example of creative composition at work, intensifying the drama of the central subject, the sky. Despite the fact that the sky is only one third of the image, everything else in the remaining two-thirds pushes the eye up towards the cause of all the drama. Brilliantly captured image!

First let me say that this contest was a difficult one to judge in so many ways. Every image qualified as a dramatic sky and in the end a lot of thought went into picking "commended" and "Top 10".

That being said, there were a handful of images that just screamed out as top contenders. This image has it all, drama, color, a sense of foreboding and story-telling. The colors are so complimentary of each other and are a perfect example of color theory at work in imagery. Brilliant image!

I have seen a lot of images that include this iconic fuselage in Iceland, but I have to say this is one of my favorites. The high contrast grittiness of the storm is offset wonderfully by the time and storm worn wreckage in the foreground. Such a dramatic sky, overpowering everything that stands in its path. Great shot!

I found this to be a masterfully crafted composition and very compelling imagery. The appearance of Manannán mac Lir seemingly summoning the the storm clouds, or possibly sending them away, truly holds the viewer's curiosity. This could have only worked as a panorama and I find this to be a very distinctive image.

I really liked the feel of this image. The sky is dramatic and made more so by the longer exposure of the waves and the small size of the lighthouse within the overall composition. You can feel the strength of mother nature at work throughout the shot. Congratulations!