Front Row Seats

Artist: Matt Merritt
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Card: US$3.82
Print: from US$19.10

Front Row Seats

Twilight storm at Lido Key beach. The two brightest celestial bodies are the Moon and Venus. Because of the storm most people cleared the beach, but because of the storm, I was drawn towards it.

I didn’t modify the picture except to increase the brightness and contrast a bit, and remove camera artifacts. I’m not too good at making photos look more ‘artistic’, but for landscape, atmospheric, and flower photos, I think I prefer the more natural look.

Unfortunately, I did not get another good shot of lightning that evening – I forgot to bring my tripod, so the photos prior to this one are too blurred. I captured this clear shot by setting my camera on a beach chair, and propping up the lens with one of my flip-flops. And this stroke of lightning was the last significant one. But I’m sure grateful for it!
(Photo taken on July 17, 2007)

Front Row Seats belongs to the following groups:

Chase HQ, Gaia - The Living Planet, Shoot The Moon and United States

Michael Bermi..., 8 months ago

Simply stunning Matt…Awesome!!
stevealder, 8 months ago

Hi Matt, Great image with lots of colour and drama. You’re a photogenic-storm chaser like me !! Regards, Steve
Ern Mainka, 8 months ago

Totally awesome. Great combination.
William Jackso..., 8 months ago

WOW! This is one helluve baddas shot man!!! amazing!
William Jackso..., 8 months ago

*helluva
Mara Panich, 8 months ago

This is fantastic! I thought it was digitally composed when I first looked at it! amazing.
Daniel J. McCa..., 8 months ago

Terrific capture, Matt. Looks fantastic!
solarrain, 8 months ago

cool shot. almost makes one wonder if the people who might have been sitting in the beach chairs were vaporized…
Matt Merritt in reply to solarrain’s comment, 8 months ago

Thanks solarrain
Vaporized? Hmm. To me, it makes me wonder why they left before the show was over… I guess they were intelligent. :)
Matt Merritt, 8 months ago

Thanks everyone!
What do you think of the title, “Front Row Seats”?
solarrain, 8 months ago

yes!!!
EOS20, 8 months ago

Wow, Great capture!!
wanda lechene, 8 months ago

wow this is really cool. and looks great with the frame.
Hiroko, 8 months ago

How awesome!!
Matt Merritt, 8 months ago

Thank you all!
Benjamin Scheurer, 8 months ago

DRAMATIC shot!!!....love this.
nikirios, 8 months ago

brilliant image!
bugsbunny, 8 months ago

blown away matt fab foto!!!
tonilouise, 8 months ago

What an amazing image and how lucky were you to witness and capture this..
Al Bourassa, 8 months ago

Great capture Matt!
jesika, 8 months ago

Very dramatic and superb
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Matt Merritt in reply to jesika’s comment, 8 months ago

Thanks jesika, and thanks everyone!

(Note: I lowered the price on this work.)
Mark Weaver, 8 months ago

this is a first class capture.
Rhonda Fulks, 8 months ago

All I can say is WOW!
Moegirlsinging, 8 months ago

The shadows of color behind the rain and the cloud coming down/moving up remind me of a nebulous cloud of a galaxy.

That shot is beautiful.
Matt Merritt, 8 months ago

Thanks Mark, Rhonda, and Moegirlsinging!
It’s interesting that elements of this photo come in pairs. I certainly didn’t plan it that way! I can see at least 4 pairs…
Scott Denny, 8 months ago

Stunning! Straight to the Favs!!!!! Superb timing.
Matt Merritt in reply to Scott Denny’s comment, 8 months ago

Thanks Scott!
Imber, 8 months ago

Spectacularly good!
JoLennox, 8 months ago

Wow! this is great.. the deck chairs put it into perspective and it is amazing!
Matt Merritt in reply to Imber’s comment, 8 months ago

Thank you Imber!
Matt Merritt in reply to JoLennox’s comment, 8 months ago

Thank you JoLennox! Even though I was on a vacation, and the weather was not what most people would call ideal, I was fortunate to get this great photo! Now I just need to sell one… :)
JoLennox, 8 months ago

Mmmm!! i know the feeling ! i bought some of my own last week.. sad but true!! he he!!
joolz, 8 months ago

Awesome shot!
reflector, 8 months ago

Stunning image, well timed and caught ! Rare perspective too.
Matt Merritt in reply to JoLennox’s comment, 8 months ago

I’m sorry to see that your work is not selling better, JoLennox – you deserve it! I noticed that your purchase of your own work did not count as a sale. That stinks! And I was thinking of buying one of my own, so that I would get a bought / sold check on my profile! lol
Matt Merritt, 8 months ago

Thanks joolz and reflector!
micmac, 8 months ago

Impressive view,fantastic capture.
Ellen, 7 months ago

This is so beautiful!!
Matt Merritt, 7 months ago

Thank you micmac and Ellen!
Helen Bascom, 7 months ago

What an amazing photograph! Well done. It’s beautiful.
Matt Merritt in reply to Helen Bascom’s comment, 7 months ago

Thanks Helen!
RichardV, 7 months ago

Stunning capture and colours Matt.
Steven Sandner, 7 months ago

Great shot!!!
Ine Spee, 7 months ago

Wow, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Venus so bright (or maybe I have and simply didn’t know!). This photo for some reason seems very surreal to me, so cool!
Sean Farragher, 7 months ago

amazing image
Matt Merritt, 7 months ago

Thanks Richard, Steven, Ine and Sean!
Matt Merritt in reply to Ine Spee’s comment, 7 months ago

Ine, I think that Venus looked so bright because the exposure time was several seconds, and the thin cirrus clouds expanded the area of brightness. I agree, it does look surreal, but it was real! :)
Forest Friends..., 7 months ago

This is AWESOME Matt! And you captured this so perfectly!!! Tina
Matt Merritt in reply to Forest Friends Photography’s comment, 7 months ago

Thank you Tina!
Lam Tran, 7 months ago

Wow! Beautiful work! Love the mysterious effect of the sky!
Matt Merritt in reply to Lam Tran’s comment, 7 months ago

Thank you Lam!
Megan Dacy, 7 months ago

Wow, this is absolutely crazy stunning!
Marvin Collins, 7 months ago

Excellent!!
Matt Merritt in reply to Marvin Collins’s comment, 6 months ago

Thank you Marvin (and Megan)!
Jacqueline Baker, 6 months ago

fantastic!.........Did i say fantastic? I meant brilliant!
Matt Merritt in reply to Jacqueline Baker’s comment, 6 months ago

Thank you, Jacqueline!
lurline, 6 months ago

A Superb capture! And the colours are wonderful! :)
ScottH711, 5 months ago

WOW….Everything about this photo is perfect.The image is outstanding,the chairs on the beach, the title…..it all fits together perfectly.
Michael Rowley..., 5 months ago

wow awsome image it has it all great capture
Mui-Ling Teh, 5 months ago

Great shot! This presents many wonders of the sky!
Kathie Nichols, 5 months ago

Wow, Matt, this is totally awesome photography!!!
Matt Merritt in reply to lurline’s comment, 5 months ago

Thanks lurline!
Matt Merritt in reply to ScottH711’s comment, 5 months ago

Thanks Scott!
Matt Merritt in reply to Michael Rowley KeepsakesPhotography’s comment, 5 months ago

Thank you Michael!
Matt Merritt in reply to Mui-Ling Teh’s comment, 5 months ago

Thanks Mui-Ling!
Matt Merritt in reply to Kathie Nichols’s comment, 5 months ago

Thanks Kathie!

Unfortunately I did not get another good shot.. I captured this clear shot by setting my camera on a beach chair, and propping up the lens with one of my flip-flops. That lightning strike was the last significant one that evening.
Ellie Winds, 4 months ago

incredible.
Matt Merritt in reply to Ellie Winds’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks elliewinds, indeed it was!
Atheum, 4 months ago

Nicely done. I enjoy to see the awesomeness of nature’s fury and good photography all at the same time.
Matt Merritt in reply to Atheum’s comment, 4 months ago

Thank you Atheum!
Adrian Carmody, 4 months ago

Unbelievably good, well done
Squealia, 3 months ago

What an amazing capture, who needs tripods?!
Daniel J. McCa..., about 1 month ago

Simply beautiful, Matt! Nothing like flip-flops : ) Great capture!!
hillsrain, about 1 month ago

Bloody hell! Strewth mate that is up there with one of my all time favourites!
Matt Merritt in reply to Adrian Carmody’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thanks Adrian
Matt Merritt in reply to Squealia’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thanks Squealia :)
Matt Merritt in reply to Daniel J. McCauley IV’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Daniel! Without my flip-flops I certainly wouldn’t have gotten as good a photo. :)
Matt Merritt in reply to hillsrain’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thanks hillsrain, and thanks for favoriting it!
Babbler, 10 days ago

very nice
Matt Merritt in reply to Babbler’s comment, 4 days ago

Thank you for the complement and for favoriting this, Babbler!