Storm Light Photography

Storm Light and Unintentional Storm Chasing

I’ve been wanting to post about storm light for a long time. While I probably should be posting about other things, a recent experience moved this topic to the front of my mind. Recently, on a one of my New Jersey Pine Barrens photography workshops, the participants were treated to some of the most fascinating storm light I’ve ever seen.

So what is storm light? I first heard about it when learning about the Hudson River School of landscape painting. These 19th century American landscape artists would sometimes paint scenes showing the dramatic light that happens before and after storms. Artists like Thomas Cole, George Inness, Fredric Church, and others were masters of storm light painting. Anyone familiar with the work of these artists knows that the storm light concept had a deeper, more spiritual meaning for America in the 19th century. This blog isn’t an art history lesson, so let’s say that what I got from the Hudson River School of landscape artists is an interest in photographing storm light with the goal of showing the beauty of the awesome power of nature.

Storm Light example by George Inness

Inspired by the Past

The above painting, by George Inness, is a perfect example of the play of light and shadow that happens as a storm approaches.  Storm light fascinated me as a kid and has continued to do so all my life. The work of the Hudson River School artists inspired me to photograph this kind of light. Here are some examples of my storm light photographs.

Storm Light on Palms Springs by Richard Lewis 2016

Storm at Sunset by Richard Lewis 2018

Engulfed by Richard Lewis 2022

Stormy Day At Whitesbog by Richard Lewis 2020

The Workshop Photographs

One thing I tell my workshop participants is that I’m there for them and will rarely set up a camera unless something amazing happens. During a workshop in 2022 was the perfect storm, so to speak. Perfect in that it happened in a way that kept us all dry and all the participants were advanced enough with their photography skills that they only wanted access to the beautiful Franklin Parker Preserve in the New Jersey Pine Barrens and not necessarily instruction. This freed me up to take advantage of this storm light.

Smartphone Apps have changed landscape photography by giving photographers amazing tools to predict the light, weather and so on. During this workshop I used a radar app to dodge storms that could have soaked us but instead gave us amazing light all afternoon.

Afternoon Storm Light by Richard Lewis 2022

We arrived at a location to photograph the sunset and everyone started pointing their cameras at the sun slipping behind the trees. One thing any workshop leader should be doing is looking around to identify opportunities. This forming storm started to happen in the opposite direction to where the sun was setting. I called to everyone to turn around for a great photographic opportunity.

Late Day Squall by Richard Lewis 2022

This ominous storm was fortunately about 5 miles north of us and not moving in our direction. I saw the light catch the rain and predicted, well, more like hoped, that the clouds and rain would catch the golden light as the sun was setting. Well it did, and created a most dramatic scene.

Evening Storm Light by Richard Lewis 2022

Storm Light Reflected 2 by Richard Lewis 2022

Storm Light Reflected 3 by Richard Lewis 2022

Rainbow Swamp by Richard Lewis 2021

A very important technique for any landscape photographer to use is the art of turning around. It can show you wonders you didn’t plan for.

Anyone who is a regular on my workshops is probably be tired of hearing me say this. But, I keep saying it because many times the best scene in a landscape is somewhere else where you are not looking.

It is easy to get caught up in the idea that we may have when we head out to photograph a landscape. While it is good to have a plan, being mindful and flexible will help us notice when nature throws us opportunities elsewhere.

There are two things I have learned from the fine art of turning around. The first is that sometimes the light reflecting off the landscape at sunrise or sunset is more interesting than what the sun is actually doing. The second is that surprise rainbows usually happen at sunrise and sunset and are almost always exactly opposite of where the sun is rising or setting.

Enjoy!

Learn more about my photography workshops here