Stratocumulus

This is probably my favourite cloud picture to date but I must confess it has had a little computer enhancement.  Taken on the ever-changing sea front at Weston-Super-Mare you can see there's quite a lot going on in this photograph with the clouds evolving.  Taken in the late afternoon one November, it was blustery as it often is on that stretch of coastline.

Stratocumulus

Steepholm Island in the Bristol Channel photographed from Weston-Super-Mare one August.  The sea is a little choppy with the wind increasing there were some showers around and not far away.

Cumulus humilis

Taken early one evening from Birdlip Hill, Gloucestershire and looking west.  The  photograph above is one of my favourite cloud shots of all time: I like it for the simplicity and the soft colours blending in with each other.  These clouds float around at about 2,000ft give or take a little.

These clouds are still forming as their bases haven't come together completely.  They're common in warm fine weather and sometimes rise further to become Cumulus mediocris or cumulus congestus if there has already been rain.  Happily this didn't happen on this day, they rolled by as we drove home in lovely weather.

The photograph on the left was taken a little sooner or later from the same spot and has the Forest of Dean hills in the bottom left and the Malvern Hills in the bottom right.

Cumulus congestus

 Dramatic Comulus congestus clouds which I always seem to notice most of all in May, here in the UK.  They can be threatening with heavy showers and develop very vigourously.

The overall size of these can sometimes be stunning and you can almost see the internal convections taking place as the fluffy tops continue to bubble away.

Stratocumulus

Heavy threatening clouds in the middle of an English summer!  Stratocululus photographed with the Hitchin lavender fields in Hertfordshire UK in the foreground.  We got very wet that day!

Cumulus mediocris

An example of Cumulus mediocris, where such clouds are arranged and moulded into shape by the wind.  I remember this clearly and it was almost eerie seeing this ribbon of heavy cloud forming a dark line in an otherwise cloudy sky.

Cumulonimbus calvus

Taken during mid October and includes a skyline in London with the magnificent St Paul's Cathedral on the left.  Although it looked as if a shower may have been threatened, London stayed dry that day.

Stratus fractus

Stratus fractus are also known as 'messenger' clouds and can be seen creeping over this mountainous area in Spain.  They are small clumps or shreds of clouds.

If you happen to be in this cloud, you'll only get wet through the drizzle like moisture as these are unlikely to be effective in producing rain as they pass over.  It's possible the clouds above may cause rain and this will fall through the lower level Stratus fractus clouds in order to confuse people like me!

Cumulonimbus capillatus

A dark brooding example somewhat exaggerated in monochrome which I occasionally use to photograph clouds.  It's almost like a piece of Mahler's 5th symphony.

Although this is just a section, these can be huge structures towering vast heights into the sky.  These often occur in the summer during hot stormy weather and often heavy rain storms will follow, possibly with hail or thunder.  I love these!

These are energetic clouds arising from cumulus congests through powerful upward drafts which can develop into Cumulonimbus capillatus shown here.

Stratocumulus cumulogenitus

Relatively low clouds in a state carrying much moisture and leading to possible localised showers.

Cumlulonimbus calvus

A section of a cloud carrying plenty of moisture which can grow to a considerable height, representing the next stage of the sizeable cumulus congestus clouds.