I’ve always had an obsession with clouds for as long as I can remember. When I was around 6 or 7 I can remember falling in love with a storybook that told the tale of a far away place where the puffy white clouds hovered just above your head and were the main food source for the kingdom. Of course, over time the clouds began to dwindle because too many people were eating too much of them. The author described the taste and texture of the puffy clouds in such elaborate detail that ever since I’ve always wondered what they would taste like (unfortunately they probably taste as mundane as fog). Then when I hit the double digits, my obsession turned to flying. I began having my first recurring dream of being in the backyard of my family home and if I stood up straight with my arms pointed straight down and squeezed them tightly enough I could generate enough power to lift myself off the ground. I remember it took every last bit of energy in me, and my body began to vibrate with all the force I was pumping out, but eventually I would hover comfortably at the same height as the chimney. Then I would catch my breath, regain my energy, and point my hands straight up to the clouds and use up my last reservoirs of energy to slowly push myself up towards the clouds. It only took about ten seconds to reach a good speed, but the acceleration was so fast that in no time at all I was whipping through the clouds like a dolphin at sea.
Clouds generally form when rising air is cooled to its dew point, the temperature at which the air becomes saturated. Water vapor normally begins to condense on condensation nuclei such as dust, ice, and salt in order to form clouds (condensation at surface level results in the formation of fog). There are several types of clouds and to learn more about the varying types you can CLICK HERE. In the following timelapse HD video shot by Murray Fredericks, the viewer is given a truly great understanding of how these wonders of nature are formed. This timelapse assembly is part of the Hector Thunderstorm Project being produced in northern Australia. The first exhibition of stills from the project are on exhibition in Melbourne at Arc 1 Gallery from the May 24 until June 18, so if you’re in the area you should definitely check it out before it’s over.
To see Murray’s incredible photographs you should definitely visit his website at MurrayFredericks.com.au, as well as his Vimeo page.
