Waikato Cumulonimbus photos

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 14/12/2003 10:00

Saturday 13th December.

Heat thunderstorms developed in the region between Huntly and Matamata between about 3pm and 6.30pm.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 14/12/2003 10:08

Thunderstorm in the Morrinsville area between 4.30 and 5pm.

Alot of rain came down with this storm. I'm guessing 20 to 25mm in 20minutes.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 14/12/2003 10:21

On the way back to Auckland I stopped to photgraph this rapidly developing cb east of Huntly, just after 6pm.

Dean. · Unread post by **Dean.** » Sun 14/12/2003 10:29

Fantastic photos Steven.........

Awesome quality,might go shopping for a digital camera today.

Cheers.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 14/12/2003 10:47

Pilues cloud or Cap cloud.

Pileus is a form of oregraphic cloud. Upper winds force the moist air over the rapidly rising tower condencing to form the cap.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 14/12/2003 11:02

As I headed back to Auckland I stopped to take one last photo of the Cumulonimbus in the distance.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sun 14/12/2003 14:45

Great photos!!

I am keen to buy a digital camera, just wondering waht type of camera you use steven and what sort of MegaPixel should i be looking at?

Cheers

Manukau heads obs · Sun 14/12/2003 15:26

great photos steven
I knew you would deliver!
Yup, those are the Cb's I could see from here, but the zoom on my one is not really up to it...(dolphin 2 megapixel)

see here for the weather at matamata:
http://www.glidingmatamata.co.nz/piako/ ... rfield.htm

they must have missed the showers

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 14/12/2003 16:51

Re the Matamata obs. Yes, I did look like Matamata missed the activity.
Mostly between Morrinsville and Huntly.

Re the camera. Canon powershot G5 (5 Megapixel)

You should look to buy 5 or 6 megapixels.

The Canon powershot G5 and other Canon cameras in this range are highly recomended.

But two members of this forum have recently invested in Nikon 5700.
Another standout compact digital camera. This has 5.2 megapixels and the highly desirable B function (which G5 lacks). B refers to unlimited open shutter. This can be useful for nightime lightning shots. The G5
will only open for 15 seconds.

Price for G5 or 5700 is around $1,500 mark.

I recommend this URL for camera reviews
http://www.megapixel.net

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 14/12/2003 17:04

Developing Cumulonimbus with Stratocumulus in foreground.

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sun 14/12/2003 21:24

Good photos Steven, look quite dramatic.

Strong congestus forms. Good wipped cream clouds or cauliflower head clouds.
The pileus caps look quite frayed as compared to the ones I have seen here in Canterbury and areas further south.

JohnGaul
NZTS

Manukau heads obs · Sun 14/12/2003 21:56

i wonder what speed those updrafts were at in the last picture!
Every time I looked at the clouds, they were alot different....you could see them growing as you watched...

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Sun 14/12/2003 23:34

Wow Steven! I'm very impressed by these pictures, makes me smile

Were you using a filter with these pictures, if so was it polerizing or UV? I notice the sky is a nice blue and the clouds are crisp. I've read that a UV filter can cut out the haze in the atmosphere as well as protecting your lense and a polerizing filter can darken a blue sky, which have you found is the best filter to use? I'm getting ahead of myself here.......very exciting stuff!

Hey Burrows (03 Stormchaser) and others, One camera that should be looked at with interest is the new Digital Canon Rebel SLR which I've heard looks like it could be popular, I think it's called the Rebel in the States but in other countries it just has a number or model number as such.

Cheers
Aaron Wilkinson

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Mon 15/12/2003 18:27

Aaron,

First two pictures a polarising filter was used (which does the job of a UV filter as well). The afternoon light is too intense not to use a filter.

For the remainder of pictures I took the filter off. Note the time of the last photo set, after 6pm. I decided not to use a filter in the early evening conditions.

I agree the digital SLR cameras are worth looking at. I would like to eventually upgrade to one of these.

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Mon 15/12/2003 23:07

Cool thanks Steven