The alert sounded as I turned out of my neighborhood and onto the highway.
“Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for all of Franklin County. Please take cover immediately.”
Driving into the approaching storm.
I was on my way to shoot the sunset at a nearby winery, and now it looked like instead I would get to shoot a Midwest summer thunderstorm.
I glanced at the radar and saw that the storm was coming from the west. PERFECT! The winery had a gorgeous western view that would now include a massive thunderstorm.
I was still a few miles from the winery, and the clouds were rolling in quickly. I wasn’t sure if I would make it under cover before the rain and possible hail hit.
Not 2 minutes later, the patter of rain began, followed by the downpour seconds later. I turned my windshield wipers on full blast, but they still couldn’t keep up with the rain.
Ding! A message from a friend popped up – use care, there are trees already down at the winery.
Oh, this storm is going to be a good one!
I turned the car engine off, and the plink, plink, plunk sounds began…it was just a bit of hail. Guess I was going to sit for a few minutes before I got out.
That’s alright – I forgot my umbrella anyway.
Once the rain slowed a smidgen, I tucked my sandals under my arm, grabbed my gear, and made a mad dash across the puddles and into the safety of the winery.
Whew! My feet were a little wet from the puddles, but I wasn’t the only one barefoot, and my gear was snug and dry. :)
The rest of the storm saw me pushing the shutter button approximately 550 times as I created exposures, waiting for the lightning to strike. My patience paid off with not just one or two photos, but several photos of the storm over the vineyards at Röbller Vineyard Winery.
Of course, a couple glasses of Röbller’s sweet red wine, a few friends, and the music of SummerFest made the evening more enjoyable as well.
So, enjoy these photos, shown in the order they were created…you can see how the light changed from a gray storm into a deep blue as the blue hour set in.
Storm clouds towards the west at Röbller Vineyard Winery.
I knew the lightning would be good tonight at Röbller Vineyard Winery.
I really love the raindrops in this photo – at Röbller Vineyard Winery.
The lightning was truly an amazing show – at Röbller Vineyard Winery.
I could have continued to press the shutter button all night with this view – at Röbller Vineyard Winery.
The sheer power of lightning is spectacular – at Röbller Vineyard Winery.
Maybe next time I’ll get a sunset photo – at Röbller Vineyard Winery.
P.S. Which one is your favorite? Tell me in the comments below, please. :)
Note: Röbller Vineyard Winery in New Haven, Missouri, is open to the public for wine tastings and available for private events as well. You can visit their website here for more info.
Second note: My work is available to purchase. If you are interested, please feel free to contact me.
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Tyann Marcink
Marcink Designs
