This is one of my favorite DB landscapes. I get so wrapped up in the beauty of the lightning bolt and the light on the leaves, that I forget that being under trees during a thunderstorm probably ain't too bright. :·\



The little purple flowers in the foreground are just the right bit of color. And the gray of the sky above the treetops is so real it's scary.



Thanx!

Lo'

This is the most unique picture of it's kind I have seen. It is going to be my desktop back- ground for ever and ever - well, for a long time anyway!

I love wallpapers that show the fury of mother nature. It helps me to keep in touch. This one is no different. It is a great impression of an aproaching storm.

I don't know what it is, but there's something about this that just gives it this look of being pretty fake compared to more recent ones you've done lately. This one kind of looks like it came out of the section from one of the earlier years.

The lightning, stark and vibrant, poses as the perfect subject in this story. You've painted a lovely and brilliant picture in a context of spring that's hard to look away from.

I love the subject matter but the lighting--notlightning--is a little bit off. I'm sure it's tough to capture that dim half-light of a storm but if you could it might be one of the most amazing images ever. Come to think about it, how about a rainstorm image?

I like the picture but it doesn't quite catch the essence of real life. I live in Fl. US so I seen the most beautiful storms and its my favorite weather. However to compare this to the images your eyes pick up in real life is kinda harsh. Done very well. Keep it up :)

I keep coming back to this picture. The new ones go up on my screen for a day or two then I put this back up.

This one is so ethereal, I love it.

The brightly lit leaves are a bit much for me. Not because they're brightly lit, but because nothing else is.



I assume that the light source is the lightning bolt--if so, then the grass and the trees should stand out in relief. I don't know if the light falling on the leaves would be such a striking green either.



Of course, if there's some other light source--the sun, for instance--then the green light's fine. However, I think it should be on the grass as well.



Other then the lighting, everything else seems pretty good.

I thought the first one was great but this version is awesome. I do like the one bolt of lightening and the contrast between the sunlight and the dark storm approaching is right on!!

Keep up the GREAT work!!!!!!

Sincs a half year this is the first picture that I do not like because the contrast between the leaves, the flowers and the sky is too harsh and does not fit well.



To my mind "Rite of Spring" from 2002 captures the essence of the moment before the storm much better.

I will admit I only visit once or twice a month to catch up on the new postings. The afternoon that I downloaded “Before the Storm” our sky did the same thing. The strong sunlight in the west and the deep dark storm clouds in the east. Storms like that you hope will pass quickly. Thanks for the chills.

I like this a lot better than the old version. First the lightning bolt looks realistic and more dramatic than the static storm in the old version. Second was the grass looked more vibrant and camera position and angle seamed better. It seams like the meadow is blooming where the old version appeared indifferent.

The lighting is better, but I don't think it's quite right and because lightning is all about light it really hurts the image. The bright spots are just too bright and the idea having the sun behind you just doesn't really cut it for me probably because of the sharp contrast between the lit and shaded portions. In some parts I think the lighting in the old version was better, because it resulted in a greener image.

Also, you definitely can see stuff lit by lightning even in the day time. (Photographing it is a very different story though) Though it depends on how far away it is, and in this case the lightning appears to be striking just behind the trees no over the horizon, which might also be why I can't accept the sun behind you idea. So I would say either move the lighting further back towards the horizon or make the image darker and more lit by the lightning.



jaycottrell I would suggest editing the image in the gimp or a similar editor it only takes a minute to mirror the image. (five if you are not used to using the program) Or you could use the triple screen version and only you the center and right thirds

I take it none of you have every been in a storm during a tornado. As eery as this is, it's dead on. I know this from personal experience. So it may not be "Before the Storm" but it's definitely "Eye of the Tornado".

I agree with the comments of Danny there is something incongruous about the bright leaves and dark sky...it is still good..but it will definitely not be one of my faves...

I like this version better than the previous one. When I live, in Wisconsin, I've seen several times where I've had sunlight behind me and lightning and dark sky in front, and this image captures that sort of feeling quite well, I think.

The main light source in the new version is sunlight coming from behind the camera. I wanted the scene to depict a storm advancing on a sunny day.



I've look at a number of photographs of daytime lightning and I haven't yet seen many where the bolt itself is casting any light upon the scene.



Just an observation...

I'm going to agree with some of the previous comments and say I actually prefer the pickle jar version. This one is almost too bright in places. Some of the leaves (particularly on the left/top) almost seem to be getting their light from behind the camera rather than in front of it. You don't get the impression it is the lightning that is lighting up the scene.

Aside from the still somewhat unnatural appearance of the lightning, this is beautiful. You can see the richness of color coming from the sunlight shining through a pre- (or post-?) storm haze.



Very nice, I much like.

how about a during the storm and an after the storm?

Well... I am probably the only one completely not liking it.

The pickle jar version is much better than this one to my taste.

The lightning is too weird and too articulated, the leaves are too green, and the contrast between the stormy sky and the spring forest blossom does not mix well at all.

It does not feel like the storm is coming, it feels like a photomontage between a storm picture and a forest picture.

Not to my taste at all, sorry.

Ok, I just said it was my favourite picture, now is even better. The light on the leaves and the darker sky remainds me the spring now, not summer.

Very good job, my best compliments Ryan!!!

I love the simplicity of the single bolt. I would like to see dual screen version with the focal point on the left monitor instead of the right. I noticed that most of the focal points on your dual monitor renderings end up on the right screen and I think it will be good to have some on the left. Other than...great work!!

Great work on this edition. The improvement of the lighting & shadows makes this version much superior. I think this is my favorite wallpaper of the year thus far!!

Lots of lightning = cool. One wicked bolt of lightning dominating the sky = awesome! This really captures the essence and feel of the moments right before the storm hits your area. One can almost feel the peal of thunder on it's way...



Well done Ryan!

new version is much greater than the prevoius one, but i like them both.

thanks a lot

Your recent update to this image makes it absolutely fantastic in my opinion. The clover-like flowers in the foreground and the dramatic contrast between the dark sky and sun-lit ground reminds me a lot of approaching thunderstorms on the prairie.

I love this new version instantly. Fabulous how you improved the disappointing first version.



It's like a totally different scene now. It's not night anymore but day, and that justifies the bright colours of the leaves & flowers. In the distance a dark thunderstorm is approaching...



All elements are in almost perfect balance now, and very convincing. Superb!



9*

This really works much better. I love it!

Really like this, always like your images when they can allow you to be there - good for escaping a boring day at the office. Its certainly a cloud where you know you're going to get soaked lol.

I think this image is just perfect. There is always a calm before the storm, and with the trees not moving because of winds, makes this image alone say "Before the Storm".



(can we get animations eventually?)



-perfect job!-

This is how it was meant to be. Just spot on :-)

This is better, but I think the close-up leaves looked better in the first one. The leaves in this one look a little fake.

wow this is the best improvement of a image yet



the first image is like a 1990's picture is this is 2007



awesome !!!

Now that is better! The right amount of lightening and the feel of the image is so amazing now!



Thank you for tweeking it! It has now made it to my desktop!



Thank you for your efforts!!!!

Thanks for listening to the comments, Ryan! This second version is STUNNING! I LOVE IT!



10!

Ryan - the small changes mad a huge difference. This piece is picturesque. This is probably my farourite for 2007 so far. (Although the Creek is a very close second).



I've been using your work pretty much since the beginning and its always interesting to see pieces evolve. I'm a lifetime member now and will be looking forward to seeing how the pictures evolve.I always get so many compliments on the background - and I always send them to your site.

It's eerie and beautiful at the same time. The intense green lighting from the leaves is much better- how it really looks when lightning strikes a dark area; there is an almost artificial, bright light for an instant.



And i'm really happy that you actually take the time to listen to our comments and make changes!

Much better, Ryan.

I like it now :)

Now I definitely get the impression that the storm is in the distance and it still sunny where we are!

So now it really is before the storm and not during it :)

Much better than the first. I loved the highlighting in this one. It is a much better dramatic piece!

This is much improved over the previous version:



- The lightning is much more realistic

- The flowers in the foreground complement things



If you end up tweaking this image again, I would suggest adding "wind" to the trees and especially waves of wind to the grass and flowers. Thunderstorms pull a tremendous amount of air up the core of the storm. On the ground, you see this as the trees and grass bent over in the direction of the storm. That final touch would be the only thing I would change. Everything else is just fine the way it is.



An excellent improvement over the previous version!

I dont want to be a nitpicker, but the lighting is a little to bright, isnt it?



The color temperature of the light seems like "bright sunlight", shouldnt it be more a cold, bluish and more dusky light?

I also like this version better, a bit more dramatic in a realistic way (If you see what I mean ;0))



Excellent work

Of course, I also like the original image but this is a vast improvement. I really like that ethereal quality of light that you sometimes get with thunderstorms (as I've seen in my native Australia). Great work, Ryan.

Night and day improvement over the first version. Kudos, Ryan!

I enjoyed the first version, but I love this version even more. What a fabulous image.



You never cease to amaze, keep up the good work Ryan.

It's better then the first version, but it just seems to me like the leaves are a bit over green. Seems like the color should be more subdued with the apparent cloud cover. Even so, very nice image.



Peace

-bohb

I like this one a lot better. Can't wait for the dual screen version!

I like this one much better. The lighting effects make a huge difference.