Cloud Illumination Near Anamosa

This was the scene three miles northeast of Anamosa, Iowa at the end of our storm chase around 8:10 PM, Sunday, April 3, 2011. The chase began around 6:30 PM with the approach of severe weather in the Cedar Rapids vicinity. Following a spell of heavy rainfall, clouds from the passing storm are illuminated by cloud-to-cloud lightning in this view looking northeast on 190th Avenue, just north of Shooting Star Road and parallel to US Highway 151 (background). Although the lightning had passed, our position here next to a cell phone tower was a little unnerving! This image was created from a 10-second exposure at f/8, with an ISO rating of 250.