Storm over Waipu
Artist
Christopher GillhamMedium
PhotographyMaterial
PaperDescription
This image captures a dramatic and atmospheric seascape—one of those fleeting moments when the weather feels alive and the entire sky seems to be in motion.
Huge, sculpted storm clouds dominate the horizon, towering above the ocean like a shifting mountain range made of vapour. Their tones move from deep charcoal to gentle grey, giving a sense of both heaviness and softness. A faint wash of light breaks through on the left side, illuminating patches of cloud and hinting at clearer skies beyond the turmoil. That small opening of pale light adds tension and balance: the suggestion that the storm is either arriving or receding.
On the ocean’s surface, the waves appear restless but not violent—more a rhythmic response to the atmospheric pressure than full-on chaos. The water is textured with layers of rolling surf, creating a beautiful counterpoint to the sky’s vast, brooding mass.
In the distance, you can just make out the faint silhouette of land or an island beneath the cloud shelf.Try it!
