Look at Clouds Beer

Karl the Fog - Hazy IPA

A fellow Council Member of the Cloud Appreciation Society started off a whole conversation about cloud-themed beers when she posted that parents in the San Francisco Bay area read "Karl the Fog" to their children while drinking "Karl the Fog" *Hazy* IPA. Who knew cloud-themed beer was a thing? (Apparently the book is a must-read as well.)

Sky IPA

Look at Clouds Beer

Seeking Photos for the 2025 Head in the Clouds Amherst Calendar!

2023 Calendar Cover

CALLING ALL WESTERN MASS PHOTOGRAPHERS

Annually, the Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar is born from the collective contributions of amateur and professional photographers living or traveling in Amherst and Western Massachusetts. The 2025 version will be no exception! From our ever-changing cloud canopy to our beautiful valley, with endless trails, historic landmarks, colleges and universities, farms, quiet ponds, and woods (lovely, dark and deep), there is so much to explore.

We are currently seeking photo submissions for the 2025 calendar. So now is your chance to share your favorite scenes with calendar fans far and wide! Start flipping through your photo collection – or grab your camera, take to our scenic highways, byways and trails, and make some new memories. We can’t wait to see what you’ve got!

Submission Guidelines

·      Submission deadline is Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 11:59 pm.

·      Submit up to 12 images.

·     Submit to CloudsAmherst@gmail.com in one of two ways: 1) attach your photo(s) to one or more emails; or 2) upload your photo(s) to a Google Drive folder and email the link to the folder. Enter "HITCA 2025 Calendar Photo Submission" in the email subject line.

·      In the body of the email include the following information for each photo you submit:

1. Where the photo was taken and what scenic feature is depicted
2. Names of any identifiable people in the photo
3. Photographer's name (your name)
4. Your contact information

·      Submit the highest resolution version of your photo(s). We prefer at least 300 PPI and cannot use images below 200 PPI. (If in doubt, send your photo to us, and we will make the determination.) 

·      Photos must be full color, landscape orientation (horizontal, not vertical).

·      Photos must be taken in Western Massachusetts, with preference for scenes of Amherst and the Pioneer Valley. Your photo should also evoke the seasons and the intersection of life and weather. In addition, we are seeking:

1. Unique renderings of iconic local landmarks. (Special call this year for photos that include The Homestead, The Evergreens, Lilacland, or Sweetser Park “A Poetic Dialogue” silhouettes.)
2. Cloud formations and weather phenomena (over or around the Pioneer Valley).

·      Light photo editing is allowed, including cropping, removing ancillary objects, and adjustments to contrast, saturation, highlights/shadows, and color. However, changes should not result in processed colors diverging significantly from the original colors or the image looking unrealistic. Your edited photo should feel natural and not distorted.

·      Fully generated AI images – even if they are based on photographs of local scenes – will not be considered. In addition to checking final photos for AI generation, we will be asking selected photographers to confirm that their images are not AI generated.

·      If your photo is selected, you will be asked to provide additional information, including a written comment about your photo to be included in the 2025 calendar.

Click HERE for additional tips on submitting winning Head in the Clouds Amherst photos.

If your photo is selected for the 2025 calendar, you will receive a free calendar and reduced rates on any additional calendars you opt to purchase. All net proceeds from the 2025 sales will be donated to a local community-based organization to be announced in July.   

This way Asperitas, that way Lenticular, oh my!

Asperitas clouds over Amherst, 5/1/2024
Photo by Sharon Vardatira

Crazy day at work, managing a constant stream of mini crises. Finally decided I just had to take a break, and wow am I glad I did. Asperitas over Amherst, cloud spotters! This is not a type of cloud you see every day! (Can't help but observe that it's a bit of a crazy day in the atmosphere as well.) 🌥💙

Lenticular clouds over Hadley, 5/1/2024
Photo by Sharon Vardatira

As I was taking pictures of the Asperitas clouds over Amherst, I happened to turn around to catch these lenticular clouds (the circular, stacked, top-like clouds) over Hadley. They hung around for only a minute before dispersing, but the sky was high drama in all directions for a time there. Not the noisy, windy, heart-thumping drama of a descending cumulonimbus, but drama nonetheless for anyone who was paying attention. Lenticular clouds come in different shapes and sizes, but I've never photographed this classic top shaped version around here before. New addition to my cloud collection!