The storm pictures go back to storms that happened in 2003 when I was shooting with a Canon D60, which was my first true SLR camera. In 2005 I caught a couple of storms with the Canon 20D. However, the bulk of these pictures are from the heavy storms that we had in January 2005 and January 2006 when I was shooting the Canon 1D MK II.

All of the pictures were caught with Canon lenses, either the 24-70mm f/2.8L, 24-105mm f/4L IS or the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. My feeling about equipment is that the cameras will come and go based on capabilities offered or not offered. The important part is the lens. The lens makes the pictures what they are so I only buy the best available and hang onto them as long as possible.

I have been a "storm Chaser" for several years. This makes winter my favorite time to photograph the Santa Ynez Valley because of the storms, clouds, rainbows, color etc. As I have traveled around the valley I have been able to identify areas that will make good backgrounds for photography. I am also lucky in that I can catch a lot of nice pictures from the back yard because of our location and view.

If there is snow, I head for the Los Padres Range although I do have pictures of snow on the ground and snowball battles at the San Marcos Pass.

I chase rainbows and, in fact, once briefed the club on capturing rainbow pictures. When photographing rainbows, I will use a polarizing filter to bring out the colors.

When we get heavy rains such as January 2005 and 2006 it is time to look for meadow streams and wander up to Nojoqui Falls.

In summary, the only thing I can point to is a liking for winter storms and a camera ready to go.

Santa Ynez Valley winter storms typically come in from the Pacific Ocean traveling west to east through the valley.

The first impacts are the clouds and rain falling along the northern edge of the Santa Ynez range.

If the temperature is low enough to bring the snow level down it will typically show on the Los Padres range.

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One of the visual impacts from these storms is the cloud formations that pass through the valley.

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Another impact from heavy storms is the formation of small creeks resulting from the heavy water flow.

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The heavy influx of water will periodically fill Lake Cachuma to overflowing which results in the Santa Ynez River filling bank to bank.

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Most of the storms flow from west to east and a surprising number of times the storm clears to the west at sunset. This provides the opportunity to chase rainbows with rain to the east and the setting sun to the west.

Single and often double rainbows are easy to photograph. The biggest challenge is chasing the rainbow to result in a pleasing background for one of natures most dramatic light shows.

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As the sun sets, the Santa Ynez Valley is often treated to another of nature’s light shows. Spectacular sunsets creep up on us, reach a peak, and then fade away.

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