Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Categories: Aerophoto |

A pilot from Ecuador, Santiago Borja Lopez, works for Ecuador Airlines and posts stunning photos with views from his cockpit. His pictures show a lot of interesting weather phenomena — from incredible storms to lightning.

These shots are so impressive that one of them won a prize in the prestigious National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016 photo contest.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Source: santiagoborja.com

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Pilot Santiago Borja Lopez works for a major airline in Latin America and during flights often becomes a witness of the raging elements.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Jorge never leaves his Nikon D750 camera — neither on the ground nor in the air.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Right from the cockpit of the airliner, the Ecuadorian takes stunning pictures of thunderclouds and lightning discharges.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

This shot titled "Pacific Storm" took 3rd place in the Landscape category at the National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016 photo contest. From the cockpit of an airplane flying at an altitude of 11 thousand meters, Borja filmed an exciting scene — lightning cuts through storm clouds.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

"I really like this photo because it makes it possible to feel the amazing size of the storm, its power. At the same time, it is amazing that you can safely fly in still air without coming into contact with the elements. Storms are difficult to shoot, because lightning discharge occurs very quickly, there is no tripod at hand and a lot of reflections of internal lights from the equipment interfere."

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Clear sky over Miami.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

A blinding storm.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Every time Santiago has an opportunity, he takes out his camera and captures the beauty he observes in the air. According to his photographs, you can follow rare weather events — storms, lightning and rains.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Clouds over the Ecuadorian city of Quito.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Clouds at sunset.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Flying over the Colombian Amazon.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

The pilot says that he has managed to combine the two greatest passions of his life — flying and photographing.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Pilots of South American airlines have a bonus: they have to fly over regions where storms and storms occur most often, and they can observe these natural phenomena with their own eyes.

Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot
Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot
Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot
Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot
Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot
Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot
Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot
Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot
Under the wing of the plane: clouds, storms, thunderstorms in stunning pictures of the pilot

Keywords: Thunderstorm | Clouds | Pilots | Ecuador

     

source