South of Prescott, Arizona, the landscape begins to change as the higher country gives way to the upper Sonoran Desert. Saguaros appear among prickly pear, grasses, mesquite, and low rocky hills, creating that unmistakable central Arizona landscape.
On this day, however, the desert was only half the story. A massive summer thunderstorm was building in the distance, its bright cauliflower-shaped clouds climbing high into the dark sky while curtains of rain fell beneath it. It was a classic Arizona monsoon scene—quiet desert in the foreground and an enormous cumulonimbus cloud seemingly taking over the horizon.
In black and white, the contrast made the storm feel even larger and more dramatic. The saguaros and scrub became small details beneath a sky that was clearly in charge.
Also, just a quick note to mention that this post marks the use of a new category that I have never heard of before: Caelum. It is Latin for sky or heavens, which pretty much covers clouds, storms, sunsets, and atmospheric scenes. Too highbrow? Perhaps, but it fits in nicely with the theme of the other categories so I think I will live with it for awhile before deciding on any changes.