Last month, pilot Santiago Borja captured an incredible image of a storm high above the Pacific Ocean from an altitude of 37,000 feet. The photograph shows lightning flashes illuminating a massive thunderstorm with an isolated cloud at its center. Borja was flying from New York to Guayaquil, Ecuador, when he spotted the storm.
As a pilot, Borja is no stranger to spectacular views from above. But he admits that capturing this particular image was a stroke of luck. “It is not very common to have the luck of flying by an isolated storm this big,” he said. “Usually they are all embedded into clouds making it impossible to be seen, you have to use the radar.”
Borja shared the photo on National Geographic’s Your Shot feature, thinking it was just a routine snapshot. But to his surprise, the image quickly went viral, capturing the public’s imagination and appreciation for the beauty of the natural world.
For Borja, photography started out as a hobby but soon grew into a passion. He began with a film camera from his father, before upgrading to a digital DSLR and honing his skills. Now, he takes advantage of his unique perspective as a pilot to capture stunning landscapes from around the world.
Reflecting on the success of his storm photo, Borja is thrilled to see so many people interested in the phenomenon. As he continues to fly and take photographs, there’s no telling what other stunning sights he may capture from the cockpit.
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