Rich Bergeman
For several months during the pandemic restrictions on traveling and gathering, I've found both relief and inspiration on my twice daily walks around my neighborhood. Rather than watch the sidewalk in front of my feet, I've been gazing skyward, and find that lifting my eyes to the skies has buoyed my spirits more than I could have imagined. So I began taking my infrared camera along to capture some of the remarkable, even joyous, cloud formations I see along the way. Because infrared renders the cold blue atmosphere as a deep dark value, it consequently reveals even the wispiest cirrus patterns in stark contrast. And perhaps because of reduced air pollution during the shutdown, the cirrus arrays seem more pronounced than ever as they dance across the sky, providing an emotional release from earthly tribulations.