Into the Firestorm

This photograph shows a storm cell illuminated by the setting sun, creating an apocalyptic display of light and atmosphere.

In the United States, supercells are a frequent subject for storm chasers who dedicate months each year to tracking and documenting them across the Great Plains. In contrast, the Philippines rarely sees such dramatic formations. Most storm cells here develop over open seas, which makes observing and photographing them extremely difficult.

On this occasion, however, a cell formed close to the shoreline of Cauayan. Several small bangkas were present in the water, and I positioned one within the frame to provide a sense of scale against the towering storm.