Of Iceland and Oregon

Photograph by: Wild Wonders of Europe (no photographer name given)

   I like all of the greens, yellows and teals in this photograph. I believe a long shutter speed was used to help create the silky waterfall or "Angel Hair" effect, the mystery photographer didn't share their camera settings. The rock formations which originally drew me to this picture are of some composition of basalt, which is a form of volcanic rock. The basalt has to cool very slowly in order to form these polygonal columns. I think the green/yellow moss is a nice distraction from all the dark,   teal  and bright white water.

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/litlanesfoss-waterfall-iceland/

I thought some warm reds and oranges would be a nice change from the cool greens and blues in the picture above. This picture was taken in the fall and depicts the brilliant leaves of a Japanese Maple. I love the natural contours of the tree's branches and how the tree's own leaves were used to create a natural frame, surrounding the dark, mossy wood with soft, out-of-focus color. I think it was very clever of the sunlight to make the leaves appear orange on the other side of the canopy, so your eyes are initially caught by the red frame in the 'front' of the picture and drawn through toward the brighter colors in the canopy. Also- I. Want. One. Of. These. Trees. 

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/japanese-maple-portland/

Lightning and Volcanic Lightning

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/extreme-weather/#/thunderstorms-clouds-natural-particle-accelerators_19189_600x450.jpg

This photograph of a thunderstorm rolling through Kansas was taken by Joel Sartore for National Geographic. I really like this picture in that there is a lot of eye-catching things throughout it. It's fascinating to see the storm rolling into the picture, watching as a calm, clear night turns into a flashing, booming nightmare. The orange on the bottom right is a little distracting, but I think the purple lighting on the opposite side helps balance it out. 

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/extreme-weather/#/science-extreme-weather-iceland-volcano_47513_600x450.jpg

This picture of volcanic lightning was taken in Iceland by another National Geographic photographer, Sigurdur H. Stefnisson. I didn't know volcanoes could cause their own lightning when they erupted! I love the dramatic flash from the lightning on the left as it strikes that nearby hill. I think the reddish color of the lightning inside the ash cloud is an excellent visualization of how hot it must have been, and then there is the surrounding sky and snowy ground, making everything look cooled off at the same time.