The other day in the car, I was listening to an interview on NPR.  The interview was with Gavin Pretor-Pinney, the man who wrote a book called The Cloud Collector’s Handbook. This book is essentially a guide to identify different types of clouds.  It also has a point system, common clouds have low points and rare formations have higher points.  Maybe this is my inner-nerd talking, but what a brilliant idea!
Pretor-Pinney has a bit of an existentialist viewpoint on watching clouds.

“True, [Pretor-Pinney] acknowledges, clouds are ephemeral, ‘magicked into being’ by the atmosphere and constantly changing. And, of course, they cannot actually be gathered up and stored away. But as Mr. Pretor-Pinney sees it, you don’t have to possess something to collect it: ‘You just have to notice it and record it.”‘

“[The Goal] is to help readers escape the tyranny of ‘blue sky thinking’ and to understand and appreciate the beauty of a cloudy day.”

With being so involved with photography, Meggan and I have been collecting clouds and not realizing it.  We’ve grown to love clouds.  Clouds have the ability to add drama and make an ordinary composition something truly special.The interview compared cloud collecting to bird watching where participants create a “life list.”  After writing this article, I’m thinking Meggan is a little worried how hopelessly far from cool I am.  By the way, I’m looking forward to tallying my cloud points and am also considering joining the The Cloud Appreciation Society.  I hope you enjoyed our “cloud Collection”.