Fabulous photo!

However, for those who are worried about the storm in the distance.  In photography, depth perception and distance are often really off especially in nature photography.

I live on the Mediterranean Sea here in Spain (only a 5 minute walk to the sea and we are almost equal to where Rome is far across from us) and from our balconies, we often witness the spectacle of such electrical storms during a time of the year.  They are huge, seem closer than they are but in reality are so far away, it would take a small boat 5-6 hours to reach that point beyond the horizon where we on the beach see them (so said a local fisherman).

Those types of electrical storms (those are the ones that produce the lightening) stay out at the sea and don't affect us at all.  Rarely do they come in towards us and when, there are plenty of warning signals, like rain and wind.  By then, no one is on the beach of course!

So those Aussies know their own climate and weather quirks and that is why they are there on the beach enjoying the fantastic scene.  Being 'smart' (or perceived as not) often has to do with different experiences (or not) than our own.  They know what they are doing.

If you haven't ever lived by the sea and witnessed this, it is difficult to imagine.   Those living landlocked, usually only perceive a storm when it is in the near distance or when it suddenly arrives.   Not all storms are the same.

Thanks for the insight!  You are so right about the things we know to be true---are the things we have only perceived to be true........fasinating.
Anita

> This is also true for those who are landlocked on the plains here in the >US

Oh yes...I had forgotten about  those seemingly endless plains like found in the US...Kansas etc.  ;>D 

Patri - This is also true for those who are landlocked on the plains here in the US.  It's amazing on how many weather systems you can see when you see "forever".

Being from Vermont where you only see mountains, you usually see the storm only when it is there.  When I lived in Indiana, the one thing I noticed that storms were farther than they appeared.  Most of the time, they never reached us.