Powerful images of Beautiful Cloud Formations

Clouds are always interesting to look at, most times we can see different shapes in them that captures our imaginations, but what exactly are clouds?, how are they made?. On Earth the condensing substance that form clouds is typically water vapor, which forms small droplets or ice crystals. When surrounded by billions of other droplets or crystals they become visible as clouds. Dense deep clouds exhibit a high reflectance throughout the visible range of wavelengths; they therefore appear white, at least from the top. Cloud droplets tend to scatter light efficiently, so that the intensity of the solar radiation decreases with depth into the gases, hence the gray or even sometimes dark appearance at the cloud base. Thin clouds may appear to have acquired the color of their environment or background and clouds illuminated by non-white light, such as during sunrise or sunset, may appear colored accordingly. Clouds look darker in the near-infrared because water absorbs solar radiation at those wavelengths.

God’s Presence and Glory in the Clouds

Clouds are used many times in the Bible to describe the Glory of God. The metaphoric and symbolic uses of clouds are many, and furnishes some of the most powerful figures of the Bible. In the Old Testament, God’s presence is made manifest and His glory is shown forth in a cloud. The cloud is usually spoken of as bright and shining, and it could not be fathomed by man:

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:5

God Himself was present in the cloud (Ex 19:9; Ex 24:16; Ex 34:5) and His glory filled the places where the cloud was (Ex 16:10; Ex 40:38; Num 10:34); “The cloud filled the house of God” (1 Kings 8:10). In the New Testament we often have “the Son of man coming on” or “with clouds” (Mat 24:30; Mat 26:64; Mark 13:26; Mark 14:62; Luke 21:27) and received up by clouds (Acts 1:9). The glory of the second coming is indicated in Rev 1:7 for “he cometh with the clouds” and “we that are alive …. shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord” and dwell with Him (1 Thess 4:17). – Bible History.com

Below are some of the most beautiful Creative Commons images of natural cloud formations.

Clouds over IL by richardcox8592

Interesting cloud formation by bugflickr

The Glory of God by godserv

North America in the Clouds by a_roadbiker

Flat Top Cumulus by dsearls

Cloud Formation by Editor B

Cloud Formations by Elite PhotoArt

Cloud Computing by by Kevin Krejci

The Drive by by .faramarz

The Sky Tonight by omarrun

The Lonely Trinity by Stuck in Customs

There was something strange over the city today by Garion88

Pinch Yourself to know if it's Real by williamcho

The Marching Clouds by etrusia_uk

Just Playing With Colours by Kenny Teo

Sky Scrapers by eschipul

Sunset from Cremorne Point by stevoarnold

Clouds Over My Hometown by omarrun

Dünya döner bir gün daha by ilkin.

Cumulonimbus Cloud Over Africa by nasa1fan/MSFC

The Violent Volcano by Stuck in Customs

Dark Clouds Above Märket Lighthouse by taivasalla

Clearing Skies Above Märket Lighthouse by taivasalla

Big Cloud by .ninja06

Mani 3 : UFO ? by eliaslar

Strange Clouds by michaelroper

The Strangest Clouds by pietroizzo

Freaky Face Cloud by Aquila

Awesome Sky 008 by @cdharrison

Freaky Clouds by Big C Harvey

Crazy Cloud Formation by skidrd

Cloud Passing By by dsevilla

All sizes of these photos are available for download under a Creative Commons license.
Click image to see all sizes on Flickr.