I think you need to revisit the title. It should read the other way around according to modern volcanic science: “Lightning Storm During Volcanic Eruption”.
“As clouds of toxic ash and dust tower into the sky, they ionise the air, generating an explosive electrical storm. Colossal forks of lightning spark around the noxious plume as it spews from the volcano’s crater, creating an image of raw, terrifying energy - as if the air itself were ablaze.”
The Associated Press paraphrasing and sensationalizing (it sells) scientists monitoring this event.
a simple nice pic would have done just fine i am sure but thanks for the science lesson i am sure that the photographer just saw a nice shot and took it shots like that dont come often so good job to the one behind the camera
Matt is right. You need to change the title. The volcano has caused the lightning. It didn’t coincide with it. The explanation given by Matt is much more interesting and you know…fact based.
“Lightning can happen as a result of a volcanic eruption. As the hot ash rises through the cooler atmosphere, transfer of charge occurs. This excess of electrons within the cloud makes it act like a capacitor, and should the conditions be correct, huge electrical discharges may be observed as bolts of lightning during volcanic eruptions. It seems that the Chaiten volcano’s recent activity has created the perfect conditions for such a show, allowing photographers in the region to capture some stunning images.”
I-m a geologist and I agree with Matt. Friction between ash particles creates static electricity. The charges are carried upward by the rising dust and gas. When the electric field strength is greater than the ionization energy of the air, the air breaks down and a spark propagates between ash cloud and ground or between different parts of the ash cloud.
I think it’s pretty clear that the lightning triggered the volcano eruption, superheating the weak mantle where it hit and allowing the already high levels of gas and magma to burst forth. I don’t know where you armchair weathermen are getting your facts but this is a pretty common geologic phenomenon.
So what you guys are saying is that it is more of a volcanic electrical storm?? Well, I am sure you will be sure to state it that way on your own blog. In the meanwhile, lay off the nit–pickery!!
Tell you what, you guys manage to take a shot like that, and then you can give us a science lesson and name it correctly. Me? I’d rather just appreciate good art then get my panties in a bunch like you guys over a scientific naming mishap.
Looks pretty hellish to me. Would like to have seen it for myself. That’s the sort of thing that would scared the hell out of the locals a few hundred years ago - the gods are angry! Sacrifice more virgins!
It’s true that this is an amazing photo, accurate title or not. Thanks for posting it!
There’s certainly nothing shameful about not knowing the science behind a phenomenon. But now that we DO know the science, I have to side with Matt and his band that the title ought to be updated to reflect his new knowledge. Given the URL (NYNerd), I’d think the author would agree.
It’s crazy that with a picture this amazing, people are bothered with the trifles of the title. Comment on the picture if you have to, but leave your perceived ignorance of the poster out of it.
Great find. Would love a higher res version for myself.
I am the INTERNET and require that the title of this article be changed. The internet is for truth and facts. Everything on the internet must be believed.
Matt is right, and all the people who say they don’t care, or it doesn’t matter are just showing their ignorance. It’s the facts that make a picture all the more interesting. But I guess that doesn’t matter to those who are just looking for non thought provoking entertainment.
By most definitions the picture is art and the artist can give it any title they wish. Perhaps ‘Thor loses it completely’ or ‘Another slight setback at the picnic’? In any event, the title as given, holds good.
i believe that the pic can be looked at either way, first being a long complicated voice of opinions on wether or not the title needs changed or second just being a neat picture taken at the right moment. Just my thoughts though.
How annoying you all are. The picture looks amazing and you are really concerned with a title that, at the end of the day, doesn’t really matter. Please pull your heads out your arses and relax a little.
Fantastic picture. For its own sake whether the title is accurate or not doesn’t really matter. However for students doing research it would be really cool if it showed up in web searches using the right keywords, etc. There is so much to learn and so little time. I would recommend changing it for easy later finding, but nonetheless I am awed!
here, here. these people have broken my heart. sad, to see something so powerful and beautiful, only to have the moment ever-so-slightly distorted by politics and semantics. what a sorry lot. on a better note, i am amazed by this image (and a bit afraid…)
I think that it should be titled to reflect the fact that whether or not the volcano created the lightning, God created both the volcano and the lightning, as well as all of you, and the internet.
Also, I created a double-helix out of peas and toothpicks in the eighth grade.
It’s THAN, not THEN, as in “A is better THAN b” not “A is better THEN B”, or as Cyanide said: “I’d rather just appreciate good art THEN get my panties in a bunch…” (emphasis mine)
Cyanide seems to be saying she/he likes to get his/her panties in a bunch, but only after appreciating good art.
I’m pretty sure they meant to say they’d rather do the art THAN the the panties.
And for all the whiners out there sniveling about the title, stop. You ruin the niceness of the picture with your whining. You should whine about the bad spelling and grammar instead, because more and more, bad spelling and grammar mistakes are making their way into advertisements, LED signs, Junk mail, even billboards. I mean, jeeze, USE THE SPELL CHECKER!
Whine about stuff that matters, like the Illiteracy of America.
haha, leave it to the internet to produce a conglomerate of nerds… It’s a picture of lightning and a volcano, get over it and put the measuring stick away
the pic is amazing in many different ways from greek gods to the first testament; though the title is set by the artist and lays as is… and the science is that the ash and dust caused the lightening storm to occur… not vice versa.
Hey, morons, trying to teach you something about nature isn’t whining or nitpicking. It actually makes the photo MORE awesome to know that the volcano caused the lightening, rather than just being a coincidence. It enhances the awe, not lessens it. Since when was knowing something a bad thing?
to be honest changing the title at this stage would be a bit of a shame. i think the argument for the changing of the title is hilariously insignificant…i would hate for the name to be changed leaving this wealth of insightful comments obsolete. KEEP THE NAME THE SAME
(i have no comment on who is right, although i do find both arguments fascinating)
come to think of it, what i find even more fascinating is that people care so much about being right that they waste valuable time in commenting a picture with the intention of putting everyone else’s opinion to shame.
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 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.
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.
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.”
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.)
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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…
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.
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???
I live in Yakima, Washington. In 1980, our first clue that Mt St Helens had erupted was the sound of thunder. The thunder and lightning continued for hours as long as the ash was still falling.
I think you need to revisit the title. It should read the other way around according to modern volcanic science: “Lightning Storm During Volcanic Eruption”.
“As clouds of toxic ash and dust tower into the sky, they ionise the air, generating an explosive electrical storm. Colossal forks of lightning spark around the noxious plume as it spews from the volcano’s crater, creating an image of raw, terrifying energy - as if the air itself were ablaze.”
The Associated Press paraphrasing and sensationalizing (it sells) scientists monitoring this event.
this has got to be the coolest picture ever!!!!
Matt, you are absolutely correct.
a simple nice pic would have done just fine i am sure but thanks for the science lesson i am sure that the photographer just saw a nice shot and took it shots like that dont come often so good job to the one behind the camera
Matt is right. You need to change the title. The volcano has caused the lightning. It didn’t coincide with it. The explanation given by Matt is much more interesting and you know…fact based.
Would be nice to get that picture in a higher res or HD. Can’t find it bigger anywhere on the net.
Whatever the title it’s a gorgeous photo of a spectacular event.
Don’t be a bitch.
The poster of the Info can name it anything they like.
Are there any high resolution pics of that?
We know more about Mars than our own earth and whats at the bottom of our oceans, Awsome photo !!!
way cool picture there
It’s pretty darned sensational either way round to be honest.
http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/07/lightning-storm-generated-by-chilean-volcano-images/
“Lightning can happen as a result of a volcanic eruption. As the hot ash rises through the cooler atmosphere, transfer of charge occurs. This excess of electrons within the cloud makes it act like a capacitor, and should the conditions be correct, huge electrical discharges may be observed as bolts of lightning during volcanic eruptions. It seems that the Chaiten volcano’s recent activity has created the perfect conditions for such a show, allowing photographers in the region to capture some stunning images.”
The title does need to be changed.
I agree with Mr. Brown on this one, in my opinion, lightning storms are just a little more common than volcanic eruptions, but what do i matter.
Who cares what it’s called? It looks awesome.
Mr. Brown is right. Slightly inaccurate title.
I-m a geologist and I agree with Matt. Friction between ash particles creates static electricity. The charges are carried upward by the rising dust and gas. When the electric field strength is greater than the ionization energy of the air, the air breaks down and a spark propagates between ash cloud and ground or between different parts of the ash cloud.
This picture reeks of glory.
I think it’s pretty clear that the lightning triggered the volcano eruption, superheating the weak mantle where it hit and allowing the already high levels of gas and magma to burst forth. I don’t know where you armchair weathermen are getting your facts but this is a pretty common geologic phenomenon.
So what you guys are saying is that it is more of a volcanic electrical storm?? Well, I am sure you will be sure to state it that way on your own blog. In the meanwhile, lay off the nit–pickery!!
Tell you what, you guys manage to take a shot like that, and then you can give us a science lesson and name it correctly. Me? I’d rather just appreciate good art then get my panties in a bunch like you guys over a scientific naming mishap.
Who cares, look at the great picture.
Photoshopped
…
Just kidding!
Looks pretty hellish to me. Would like to have seen it for myself. That’s the sort of thing that would scared the hell out of the locals a few hundred years ago - the gods are angry! Sacrifice more virgins!
It’s true that this is an amazing photo, accurate title or not. Thanks for posting it!
There’s certainly nothing shameful about not knowing the science behind a phenomenon. But now that we DO know the science, I have to side with Matt and his band that the title ought to be updated to reflect his new knowledge. Given the URL (NYNerd), I’d think the author would agree.
It’s crazy that with a picture this amazing, people are bothered with the trifles of the title. Comment on the picture if you have to, but leave your perceived ignorance of the poster out of it.
Great find. Would love a higher res version for myself.
I am the INTERNET and require that the title of this article be changed. The internet is for truth and facts. Everything on the internet must be believed.
I’m a volcano and I agree with Matt as well.
FEAR MY POWER! I CAN IONIZE!
Matt is right, and all the people who say they don’t care, or it doesn’t matter are just showing their ignorance. It’s the facts that make a picture all the more interesting. But I guess that doesn’t matter to those who are just looking for non thought provoking entertainment.
By most definitions the picture is art and the artist can give it any title they wish. Perhaps ‘Thor loses it completely’ or ‘Another slight setback at the picnic’? In any event, the title as given, holds good.
i believe that the pic can be looked at either way, first being a long complicated voice of opinions on wether or not the title needs changed or second just being a neat picture taken at the right moment. Just my thoughts though.
How annoying you all are. The picture looks amazing and you are really concerned with a title that, at the end of the day, doesn’t really matter. Please pull your heads out your arses and relax a little.
Fantastic picture. For its own sake whether the title is accurate or not doesn’t really matter. However for students doing research it would be really cool if it showed up in web searches using the right keywords, etc. There is so much to learn and so little time. I would recommend changing it for easy later finding, but nonetheless I am awed!
here, here. these people have broken my heart. sad, to see something so powerful and beautiful, only to have the moment ever-so-slightly distorted by politics and semantics. what a sorry lot. on a better note, i am amazed by this image (and a bit afraid…)
I think that it should be titled to reflect the fact that whether or not the volcano created the lightning, God created both the volcano and the lightning, as well as all of you, and the internet.
Also, I created a double-helix out of peas and toothpicks in the eighth grade.
Let’s Whine about Grammar instead…
It’s THAN, not THEN, as in “A is better THAN b” not “A is better THEN B”, or as Cyanide said: “I’d rather just appreciate good art THEN get my panties in a bunch…” (emphasis mine)
Cyanide seems to be saying she/he likes to get his/her panties in a bunch, but only after appreciating good art.
I’m pretty sure they meant to say they’d rather do the art THAN the the panties.
And for all the whiners out there sniveling about the title, stop. You ruin the niceness of the picture with your whining. You should whine about the bad spelling and grammar instead, because more and more, bad spelling and grammar mistakes are making their way into advertisements, LED signs, Junk mail, even billboards. I mean, jeeze, USE THE SPELL CHECKER!
Whine about stuff that matters, like the Illiteracy of America.
:p
haha, leave it to the internet to produce a conglomerate of nerds… It’s a picture of lightning and a volcano, get over it and put the measuring stick away
I believew the flash from the camera caused the lightning which in effect caused the volcanic eruption. guess no one thought of that
the pic is amazing in many different ways from greek gods to the first testament; though the title is set by the artist and lays as is… and the science is that the ash and dust caused the lightening storm to occur… not vice versa.
I will go with Matt, but even from a marketing perspective the other title is better. It only adds destructive power to a volcanic eruption.
Actually, it’s a picture of my stomach after me and the guys went to this little cantina and ate hot wings and drank Coronas for a few hours……
Hey, morons, trying to teach you something about nature isn’t whining or nitpicking. It actually makes the photo MORE awesome to know that the volcano caused the lightening, rather than just being a coincidence. It enhances the awe, not lessens it. Since when was knowing something a bad thing?
I think we should elect Matt to be the next president.
So what’s the name of the superhero/villain that was just born?
the correct information should be available to educate or you mite as well say the picture is of king kong lighting his fart
who cares about the title…. the pic is great… and the photography is great
The title needs work. For maximum sensationalism, rewritten I would have the title this way;
An erupting Volcano begins to develop new lightening powers. Humanity surrenders to this new Vulcan overlord.
UFO
FIND OUT MORE AT
THEYLIVE.NING.COM
COPY AND PASTE
chicken and eggs over a bolt of lightning and a volcanic erruption,
id rather just appreciate the picture.
Artists prefer the artistic value of this photo.
Scientists prefer the scientific value of this photo.
It’s just on how you prefer to look at it.
to be honest changing the title at this stage would be a bit of a shame. i think the argument for the changing of the title is hilariously insignificant…i would hate for the name to be changed leaving this wealth of insightful comments obsolete. KEEP THE NAME THE SAME
(i have no comment on who is right, although i do find both arguments fascinating)
come to think of it, what i find even more fascinating is that people care so much about being right that they waste valuable time in commenting a picture with the intention of putting everyone else’s opinion to shame.
and then i wonder…why do i?
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.
I must have this pic for my desktop background, higher resolution anywhere?
I live in Yakima, Washington. In 1980, our first clue that Mt St Helens had erupted was the sound of thunder. The thunder and lightning continued for hours as long as the ash was still falling.
I was in Costa Rica at the hot springs and its incredible. As the volcano rumbles and erupts the springs will pulse hot water! Its so awesome!