8 Breathtaking Cloud Formations

WomansDay.com ^ | October 16, 2009 | Olivia Putnal

[Daffynition]

Clouds come in many shapes, sizes, colors and forms—all unique and beautiful in their own way. Whether it is a sky full of red and orange clouds lighting up the Brooklyn Bridge or rare mother-of-pearl clouds in Scandinavia, we found some unbelievably stunning photos that capture fascinating cloud formations from around the globe. Have a look at the pictures below—and you never know, they may inspire you to look up to the sky every once in a while.

Florence, Italy

As Frank Slack stood over the Arno river, the combination of the setting sun and clouds rolling in produced this magnificent yellow and gray sky. Photo courtesy of Frank Slack via

Huntsville, Alabama

Wes Thomas was lucky enough to witness these low, fast-moving clouds one night over Jones Valley. To produce the blurred effect, he set the camera to a 30-second exposure. Photo courtesy of Wesley Thomas via Flickr.com

New York, New York

While walking the Brooklyn Bridge, Ben Brown captured this red sky moment minutes after a summer shower soaked the city. Photo courtesy of Ben Brown via Flickr.com

Rio Vista, California

Looking out toward Mount Diablo from the patio of her home, amateur photographer Rebecca snapped this mixture of red clouds and a blue sky. Photo courtesy of Rebecca via Flickr.com

Walla Walla, Washington

When the sun is unusually high and the temperature is hot, sometimes a circumhorizontal arc like this one forms—which was immortalized by Lynn Suckow one summer afternoon. Photo courtesy of Lynn Suckow via Flickr.com

Valencia, Spain

According to Marialuisa Wittlin, these lens-shaped clouds loomed over the mountains all day and she was able to get a shot of them before the sun finished setting—when this lovely scene disappeared. Photo courtesy of Marialuisa Wittlin via Flickr.com

Buskerud, Norway

For almost an entire month in January 2008, these nacreous clouds—which are known for their mother-of-pearl colors and only form in frigid temperatures—graced the Scandinavia skies. Photo courtesy of Kalinka Irina Martín Iglesias

Central Illinois

When sunlight is diffused through thin clouds with uniform water droplets, it produces vivid colors like these in the photo above—a phenomenon called iridescence. Photo courtesy of Tim Stone via Flickr.com

[Daffynition]

I love that site. I don’t go there as often as I would like. Thanks for the reminder!

[Daffynition]

I love the tropical clouds in Florida. They are extraordinary.

[Doogle]

*LOL*

[JoeProBono]

[Daffynition]

These lenticular clouds, known locally to New Zealanders as ‘pets’, look more like a mass landing of UFOs to us.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Great pics...this one was taken Jan 1 2000

[JoeProBono]

New Zealanders won't talk about what comes out of those clouds

[wagglebee]

Awesome pictures!

[Daffynition]

Fantastic!

There's something fishy about this one too!

[Daffynition]

A morning glory in Australia

[Daffynition]

A cloud wake appears on the downwind side of Isla Socorro, Mexico - 2/12/2000 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)

[LadyPilgrim]

Just beautiful....thank you! :-)

[Daffynition]

Some lucky pilots see such a great view while flying, and we, ‘mere mortals’ only in photos.

[JoeProBono]

[Daffynition]

We're not in Kansas any more.

[patriot08]

I'm just an amateur- point and shoot, but here's some I took of some pretty clouds:

I live on the bay and get to see some pretty spectacular sunrises. :)

[nagdt]

Very nice! I saved one for my desktop background.

[HereInTheHeartland]

I like your photos.
I do the music and slides for my church services, and use appropriate photos for the song slide backgrounds.
Is it ok if I add your top one with the single bird to my photo library to use?

[JoeProBono]

[LadyPilgrim]

My, my...isn’t that the truth?
Of course at one point.....some day......we’ll get to see this up close, because we won’t be ‘mere mortals’ any more! :-)

Thank you dear one!