A Storm Blowing in from Western Montana

[Bo Zarts]

Idaho Panhandle National Forest near the Idaho/Montana state line at about 47°N latitude - August 2025
©2025 Bo Zarts Studio

[h2ebits]

1. Wow!

[George McGovern]

2. You are a natural at nature photography. Thanks Bo Zarts.

[Bo Zarts]

4. Thanks George.

Like I've said, it's low hanging fruit. Someone has to pick it.

[Jilly_in_VA]

3. Zowie!

My brother lives in Corvallis, MT.

[Auggie]

5. Super nice ...

Love the contrast in textures and similarity in color palette. Good design. Snow in the distance adds depth.

How long did you wait for this? I've been on commercial shoots where I've waited nearly 6 hours for the light to get right.

(Art Director by trade).

[ultralite001]

6. Great pictures...

When the sky is clear, step out + wave to the satellite...

Don't forget to smile!!!

[calimary]

7. Magnificent!

Boy! That’s some sky!

[chowder66]

8. I could watch that view alllllll day.

[Bo Zarts]

13. It gets a little dicey when the lightning starts popping close to the lookout.

But even that has a charm of its own.

[chowder66]

15. I would be both excited and terrified.

I love and miss t-storms. Moved from KCMO to L.A. There have only been 2 comparable t-storms in the 35 years I've been here and even then they would be called mild compared to back home.
In the Hollywood area it's typically just a clap of thunder or two (maybe more depending on where you are in L.A.) and a few bolts of lightening.
If I was up in the mountains or in the desert here that would change significantly.

[Maj. Dude]

9. Love It

And it's heading our way to feed our lakes and streams.

[chouchou]

10. Be-You-tiful.

[NBachers]

11. You always post good stuff, but some of your recent shots have been absolutely mind-blowing.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. Tremendous. Great timing for the lighting. . . . nt

[Bo Zarts]

14. Lightning came and it started a fire that I subsequently called in ..

I'm happy when I get a strike .. a serendipitous strike .. in a photo like this. But I no longer set up for "lightning photography." I've done that in the past .. still and video.

Like the distant lightning in this shot of a storm over Tucson shot from Lemmon Rock lookout in July 2014:

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. Wow! . . . . . . nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Great photo! I swear I can see the clouds moving . . .

The lighting is perfect.