Nancy Armstrong  

Sky by Nancy Armstrong

October 2025 - Sky

About the Image(s)

I took this photo on a memorable June evening a couple of years ago on the way home from a “Flint Hills Symphony.” The (once) annual event was both unique and incredible- the Kansas City Symphony set up an enormous shell in the middle of the Kansas prairie on a cattle ranch and played a symphony of mostly western composers. It’s one of the most moving things I have ever experienced. There would be several thousand people (and their vehicles) out in the middle of the prairie; it took an enormous effort to pull it off.

This particular year a surprise storm cell started approaching the event, and an announcer suddenly stepped to the microphone in the middle of the concert and announced we would all need to head to our vehicles (parked around a mile and a half away) immediately. Amazingly everyone was calm but quickly got to the business of packing up and heading out. We drove home heading right into the storm; I took this photo through the car window, probably around 7:30 or 8:00 pm - it is usually quite light then at that time of year.

3 comments posted

Jennie Wang   Jennie Wang
(Group 25)
Nancy, love the gloominess of the image. Love the clouds (such interesting formation). The car adds some interest to the photo and brings the audience back to a sense of time (pending storm). Thank you for sharing!   Posted: 10/15/2025 05:06:09
Carole Kropscot   Carole Kropscot
Dark and foreboding - that's my initial reaction. That makes the image distinctive. It seems that most photos we see are taken during regular weather. The image seems bland to me, so I played around with it to try to make the sky seem more dramatic. I basically used the contrast slider. I made another version not saved or shown here but one that told the story of a stormy sky, where I made it b/w except for the red car lights. Lots to play around with in this image. I love the story about the Flint Hills concert because that event was so monumental every summer here in the Kansas City area.   Posted: 10/15/2025 22:25:00
Comment Image
Bunny Laden   Bunny Laden
Wow! What a great shot. I think they are mammatus clouds, which typically indicate a severe storm is on the way. So it was good that you fled! I like the way you captures the side light trying to get through the dense clouds. Good job!   Posted: 10/26/2025 01:49:48

 

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