Thunderstorm over the Filstal valley

by Jiri Viehmann

A dramatic moment in the sky above the Filstal valley: this photograph shows a massive thunderstorm cell building up over the countryside late in the evening of 21 June 2012 and moving from the Swabian Alb towards Eislingen/Fils and Salach. An impressive cloud formation arches over the ripe cornfield, its dark, bluish-grey structure pierced by warm orange light. On the horizon, the first lights of the villages glow, whilst to the right in the distance, a flash of lightning brings home the tension of the moment.

The image combines the tranquillity of the landscape with the immense power of the weather. The vast fields in the foreground lend the scene depth and a sense of groundedness, whilst the menacing wall of clouds above creates an almost monumental effect. It is a moment in nature full of movement, energy and atmosphere – captured precisely at the instant when beauty and danger lie side by side.

A striking image for anyone who loves weather phenomena, landscape photography, stormy atmospheres and the unique drama of the Swabian Alb.