In late February 2014, a low pressure 'trough' stretching from the north into inland eastern Australia provided instability in the atmosphere, and temperatures in western New South Wales approached 40°C. I had travelled from Victoria's Sth Gippsland specifically for these conditions in the hope that I would encounter some unique photographic opportunities in the region. In the dunes area of Mungo NP I spotted the convection that I was looking for.

I was determined to catch it and knew exactly where and how I wanted to photograph it. I hurriedly made my way through around 30 km of 4WD tracks. Then with all my gear on my back and bare feet I ran almost a km scaling over multiple dunes in the 40°C heat to a ridgelinethat I had found the day before that I thought would align for my dream composition. I arrived just in time to shoot only a few images as the storm grew, it burst out lightning and thunder around me. In no time the heavy rain and outflow winds of an estimated 70km/h also hit. With absolutely no cover to be found in a sand dune field, I croucheddown in a ball making myself small and not a target for lightning whilst protecting my gear as Irode out the brief but spectacular storm. I got caked in wet sand blown clay dust as the temperature temporarily dropped. Although covered in sweat, rain and mud I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as I walked back to my vehicle. This is what I had planned, hoped and come for.