It really makes one feel insignificant doesn’t it?

The worst part about this is that every one of you are arguing of the title of the image and missing the big point. This picture wasn’t put here for a science lesson it is her to show the intense beauty of the would around us.

there are no arguments against changing the name, only for it.
If you dont change it some dumbtard will see this picture and tell all their dumbtard mates who will then go telling other dumbtards and then soon everyone in America will think that there must be a volcano going off somewhere nearby every time the see lightning.

Matt has right, it’s exactly what it happens,
That pictures is from a volcano here in my Country, the volcano name is “chaiten” so if you want to see mor pics about it just write “volcan chaiten”. It’s a beautiful picture, but not beautiful for the people of Chaiten… they were evacuated of the zone, and animals (farms animals) are dying because of the ashes, they havent food… it’s a sad true for a great picture

I suspect that the photograph was taken for scientific purposes. An accurate title would be appropriate.

i think that while yes the name IS incorrect.
expecting him to change it petty.
i also agree that the facts behind it make it all the more amazing.
BUT
as with most nerds the original name change poster forgot that people have feelings. the way in which he spoke was offensive.

That sums it up.
please don’t comment back the R-tards who wish to continue a dead argument.

Can I just add fuel to the fire by pointing out that taking a picture of something that’s happening isn’t art?

I’m another vote for changing the inaccurate title. But then you guessed that from the above pedantry.

Call it whatever you like it still shows the awesome power and beauty of nature, albeit the people that were directly effected probably didn’t see much beauty in it.

Just so you know…
It’s all in the eye of the beholder.
Ever heard of “one mans trash, is another mans treasure”?
Well it’s the same thing. YOU may not think it’s art…But others might.
I think it’s beautiful.
Art or not.
Science or not.
There is no right or wrong. He titled it, what he wanted it to be titled… It’s really insignificant as to whether or not it’s correct.
way to make the photographer feel like an idiot… You guys are real nice.
Talk about ignorance.

If I may say, as a devoted nerd and a lover of debate, that you guys are being absurd.

First of all, this picture is absolutely gorgeous and can be appreciate on the level of art. Whether or not it is art is a matter of one’s own opinion, but frankly I see no reason a picture of a real-world thing can’t be art. You’re still taking an actual event and interpreting it in a way so as to share your emotions with others.

Second, the title may OR may not be inaccurate; only the actual artist/photographer knows which started, of all of us, and s/he does not seem inclined to comment.

As for me, I appreciate the science lesson – it was rather interesting – but I maintain you should have just mentioned it and not tried to make suggestions about a decidedly non-science-based, artistic picture of a beautiful and rarely (by me, anyway) seen event.

Oh my god, who gives a shit what it’s called? IT’S A PHOTO.
IT DOES NOT MATTER.
It could be called “OH MY GOD LOOK!” for all it matters.
Cripes.

Both sides are blowing this outta proportion. Matt Brown had a valid point, and maybe it’s a little nitpicky, but it’s more interesting than thousands of posts saying “Sweet pic! Awesome! etc.”

What a stunning photograph. Lost for words.

And speaking of the title, I bet they put it that way exactly b/c it sounds like a coincidence that way. (And It actually is an awesome pic. Wrath of the gods and all that.)

I’m with Epiphani. Great pic, “oh my God look” covers it. This is another in a long list of “Get a life people” blogs.

Christ on a bike, you lot are mental! Ok, so it’s an awesome photo of an awesome natural phenomena which illustrates the beauty and power of the world in which we live. Scientifically, it should be titled “Eruption of Chilean caldera volcano causes massive release of particulates into the atmosphere, providing suitable conditions for the formation of a large electrical storm”. Artistically it should be titled “Sky on fire”.

Now decide whether you’re an artist or a scientist, get on the appropriate side of the fence and shut the hell up!

Well said, Epiphani Take it or leave it, the photo is there to enjoy, not to tear people to pieces by showing you went to the next High School level!
(Maybe the Mona Lisa should be re-named the Smiler Lisa?

Reminds me Lord Of The Rings.

Awesome photo, nature is so beautiful…

the picture is awsome, do not care for the way to call this natural event. As Epiphani said, ITS A FREAKING PICTURE, mind you all you own shit and just take a look a the picture

Actually it does matter. A photographer who works for national geographic took this photo and having it misrepresented on the internet could make him/her look bad. It’s not just a photo, its a beautiful work of art and the photography/video you see in Nat. Geo. is amazing… they deserve proper credit.

Matt was actually pretty nice about the science lesson, it’s pretty mush everyone else who made it into an argument, and it does matter what the photo is called. If it was called GXAXYX nobody would look at it. But still tecknecally the title is correct, becuase a volcano eruption is happening during a lightning storm, even though it caused the lightining storm.

Matt, no matter what you call it….it is an AWESOME picture, thank you for sharing it with all of us!!

I saw Mt.St.Helens erupt in 1980 from the west base of Mt. Ranier. There was lightening from the ash cloud but this photo definitely shows a lightening storm in progress, with possible ash induced lightening. The universe is infinitely beautiful. Great shot.

Who cares about the title? Just admire the picture.

So let me make sure I understand this all. Volcano eruptions can cause lightning. Thus when a volcano erupts and there is a lightning storm it was caused by the volcano. But If a lightning storm were in progress over a volcano that was about to erupt, the volcano would not erupt till after the storm has passed because that would create a coincidence and that is just impossible. Did I get it all right?
I am just really confused because there was so much posted here and it was all so different. I was really enjoying the picture when I first saw it but then as I read the posts it completely changed my mood. I am now so sad. Oh well. Im gonna go back to the top and look at the picture and go on about my day happily. Have a great day everyone.

This is ridiculus, i got half way through the comments before i had to stop, its a pretty picture, i didnt even look at the title

Whatever the case with the weather stuff, that is an excellent picture, and I believe that if you look in the background there is in fact a lightening storm, related or not.

They are trolling…and it is working great. Don’t fall for this stuff.

Plus, nice pic!

This is the most METAL PICTURE EVER!

You all are wrong. Just enjoy the freaking picture.

This photo is stunning. Beautiful albeit tragic.

Also it doesn’t need to be renamed. whoever reads the first few comments will be set straight.

i don’t care what it’s called, it’s still amazing
more proof that God (or the Flying Spagetti Monster, whatever your preference) is an artist

Look closely….
you can see Jesus

This picture is proof that people are willfully ignorant. “Who cares how it’s caused? It’s beautiful.” WE CARE. THAT’S WHO. Just because you prefer to remain in the dark, just because you don’t care about explanation, doesn’t mean that others don’t or shouldn’t.

I just agree with whoever said, “You might as well tell people it’s king kong’s fart.” That would be awesome, and beautful, and sublime, and all that too.

If the point of the art is to appriciate the beauty of nature (as some have claimed), than wouldn’t it be better if it had a NATURAL explanation? Else, it would be a picture of the beauty of God, or of Shiva, or of anything else. If it’s a picture of nature, it deserves a naturalistic, and correct, description/title.

Also, I would only cease to believe that there is *some* photoshop/darkroom work in this image if someone provided from the negative or the RAW image off the camera. Photoshop does not = fake, is does = altered digitally using a widely available program called Photoshop, which provides photographers and artists with a variety of tools, not all of which are tools for the creation of images.

But I should just get used to the fact that anyone who looks as blogs with no artist information, no scientific facts, no information about the photograph or how it was taken, no information about the geography, history, or location of the volcano–no information PERIOD–are, in general, willfully ignorant.

Including me.

“The little-understood storms may be sparked when rock fragments, ash, and ice particles in the plume collide to produce static charges—just as ice particles collide to create charge in regular thunderstorms.”

Yes, the title should be changed, but anyone that stated it after Matt is just trying to say “oh, hey, I’m smart; everyone look how smart I am!”.

pretty damn cool. change the title though.

there isn’t actually a thunder storm.
while waiting and hour after taking finals i read a book about the earth.
when volcanoes erupt they can actually produce lightning.
not sure on the technical stuff but i’m just saying it kind of demotes the name of this.

I just want to point out that the author of this blog did not take the photo, as some of you seem to be implying.

just a note-I understand the science of the volcano and electrical storms–was at St. Helens when she blew–I was almost 6–thought it was pretty amazing up there in the ash cloud—but if you REALLY look at this pic–it looks like you have both—there is indeed lightning in the volcanic cloud–but there is lightning that appears to be some distance away–over what looks to me (a NW native) like rain streaks far away–I think it is both…

Beautiful picture! And I appreciate the science lesson, I didn’t know volcanoes could cause lightening storms; you learn something new every day.

There, see how easy it is to appreciate both?

Hola, saludos a todos, …la verdad, este es el volcan Chaiten, queda en la decima region de Chile, y estos “rayos”, por ciencia cierta corresponden a electricidad generada por la electricidad estática q se produce al hacer erupción un volcan, por eso este efecto de tormenta eléctrica.

Saludos y fuerza a las personas de la X Region de Chile.

I saw a lot of lightning when Mt. St. Helens erupted, also. I was in the red zone, and it was amazing! It’s nice to hear the science behind it. Thanks!

title. didn’t even see a title once the photo was on screen. if i’d been there to take that shot the last thing on my mind would be a title. more of a thank you and lots of thought. right place right time mate.

Wow, this is how I imagine the apocolypse. Is it wrong that I want one now?

Well it would appear that the term ignorant has been tossed around a lot in this post, but it does appear to be a storm in the background and where the ash plume and cloud meet is the most spectacular part of the photo.

But I am not a geologist or a meteorologists so I could only begin to just guess at assumptions as to what that could be. Is Mr. Brown correct in his point of changing the name, I could not tell you I am not educated in the required fields. This does not make me ignorant tho because I just simply know that I do not know, but I do know that all things are possible when looking at the beautiful destruction that is nature.

this is nearly as entertaining as science Vs religion which i’m surprised hasn’t really come into it all yet. No one claiming its god’s beautiful work???

Anyway i’m glad i read matt’s explanation as i wouldn’t have known how it occurs. I appreciate both sides. the picture is gorgeous but its is truly also an magnificent display of nature one which i would like to understand. that’s why we have the likes of artiest, galleries, historians, scientists, the discovery channel etc. we don’t just have one!

however, would this debate have ever happened if the photographer/poster titled it “BA-BOOM” or something to that effect???

Has anyone stopped to consider the description of God’s meeting with Moses in the Old Testament?

A pillar of cloud with lightnings all about it? A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night?

Just a thought…

Fear not my children it is just an angel passing through this world into another.

RE: Comment # 84
I’m with you WTF?

I’m sure some people see the photograph, think “thats awesome” and move on. That’s OK.

When I saw this great photo, my first thought was “what would cause something like this to happen?”. It has been and always will be my nature.