The Big Sky

In August of 1994 I was driving through an intense storm on Highway 141 near Avon, Montana.  Suddenly the setting sun dropped into a gap between the clouds and the horizon and lit up the clearing storm with the most incredible light I'd ever seen.  I pulled over, set up my camera and tripod, composed a scene with the rainbow and clouds, and clicked away.  As the ball of the sun set below the horizon, the light got more orange.  I just kept clicking, hoping to get an image with lightning.  I shot about a roll of film and got a few shots with lightning.  This was the best frame.  It was my first nationally published photograph.  "Outside" magazine published it in 1995.  Nikon 35mm camera.  Fuji Velvia film.