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Saturday 13 September 2014

Picture This #268 ~ Cloud Drama

Hi everyone, this is Mitch. I'll be your host this week. Before we get to this week's theme, there's something I need to say. I've been giving some serious consideration lately as to whether I want to continue with Picture This. The number of members regularly taking part has been steadily falling over the past year. It's now consistently less then ten per week. If it falls any further I have to wonder if it's worth the effort. It also means the rotation of hosts is getting smaller, meaning I have to ask members more often. There's still the problem, despite several requests for members to check back later in the week, of later posts not getting as many comments as those posted at the weekend. I really love this site, but I need the full support of the membership to keep it going. Thank you.

This week's theme is 'Cloud Drama'. The sky is an ever-changing panorama. We all love cloudless sunny days in the summer, but the sky is at it's most dramatic with the addition of clouds and the way they interact with sunlight. So I want to see your best dramatic cloud/sky shots.

1) Carew Millpond at sunset.
Carew Sunset 3

2) Storm clouds over the Brecon Beacons, Wales.
Storm Clouds Approach

3) Rain clouds approaching Knowlton Church, Dorset, England.
Knowlton Church 7

4) Summer clouds, National Botanical Gardens, Wales.
Sculptor's Clouds


17 comments:

  1. Wonderful captures Mate, I remember our trip to Knowlton well, but your sunsets have always been favourites of mine, this one is not an exception ;)

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    1. Thanks Baz :-)) Used to be a time when I used to get lots of sunsets, but that was when I lived in a place that had a direct view over the Cleddau River and could see every sunset every day. The last couple of years, since I moved inland, I don't get as many.

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  2. Beautiful brilliant diamondwhite sun and shimmering clouds and brass reflection in the gently rippling waters.

    Beautiful pastoral landscape neath the dramatic darkgrey/white clouds.

    Ominous silhouette of the tower with the irridescent silverine sun in the feathery clouds.

    Utterly lovely shimmering blue sky and cottony cluods and irridescent green grass.

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  3. Love the theme. All shots great yet the first one is my favorite. It's simply stunning. About participation. At times, I don't have anything to contribute so I stay out. Hope this place continues as it's probably the only reason I visit this place nowadays after Creative Challenge closed awhile back.

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    1. Thanks Nik :-))

      I'm going to try to keep the place running as long as I can. I understand that sometimes there will be a theme or two where a member might not have any appropriate shots, and sometimes folks are off on vacation, I was referring more to the permanent disappearance of several members over the past year or so. We're getting virtually no new members to replace them. We've had just two new members in the last few months, and neither of those have bothered to take part.

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  4. Hi Mitch! Love the shots. Carew Millpond looks wonderful in the golden sun. That's an amazing shot of the dramatic white clouds over Brecon Beacons. The muted colors of the earth are very pleasing. The church in Dorset and the sculpture help bring the clouds in those pictures into focus.

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  5. I hope this sit continues, although it is diffiult. There are so many photo sites on the net, but I feel most comfortable here.
    Thanks for featuring my butterfly on the banner, he feels quite honoured.
    Love the sun in the first photo, very good catch.On the second it looks like an army of clouds are gathering. the third is very peaceful.

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    1. Thanks Pat :-))

      As I said to Nik, above, I intend to keep the group going as long as I can, but ultimately it will be up to the members. If many more decide to leave, it may not be possible to continue. I much prefer it here to FB. The photos display much better, and the social side seems more personal, as well.

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  6. Hi Mitch! I really understand your sentiment regarding keeping PT going on or not and I hope you have no reasons in the future to close it as it happened with CC. I read Pat's words and I agree with her. FB must also be one of the causes for formerly active members having kept passive... Let's be optimistic...
    Love the four awesome skies you share on here... Not easy to pick up a favourite because each one has its beauty... however, the simplicity in the last shot makes it be my favourite...

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    1. Thanks Belita :-)) The funny thing about the one you liked best is that when I was taking it, I was concentrating on the sculpture and didn't really notice the cloud-bank behind it til I was looking at it on the computer later!!

      I will try to remain optimistic and will continue to run PT for as long as it is viable. I just hope that no other regulars decide to leave!!

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  7. Mitch, your cloud photos are dramatic. Clouds do add a dimension to a landscape. I see that in your second and third photos. I like the photo of the storm clouds over Brecon Beacons.
    I join everyone here expressing my sentiments about the future of PT. It is a great way to showcase everyone's photos.

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  8. Beautiful shots, Mitch! That first one is spectacular!

    I love the name Brecon Beacons. There has to be a story behind that! A lovely, lovely scene and you captured it beautifully! Is that a herd of sheep dotting the field on the right?

    That's a very dramatic shot of the old church!

    That's a cool sculpture and the clouds make a lovely backdrop!

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    1. Thanks Debby :-)) If you Google the Wiki entry for the Brecon Beacons you'll find a lot of info. Yes, it is a flock of sheep in the field to the right. I took that photo from Carreg Cennen castle

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