A Saskatchewan man is in the running for National Geographic's nature photographer of the year contest.

Ryan Wunsch is a storm chaser and the hobby puts him in the path of some awe-inspiring natural events.

That paid off in spades earlier this year when he was near Stanford, Mont., one day as a big storm was brewing.

Wunsch saw a rotating super-cell forming, composed his shot and clicked the shutter.

"It was huge," Wunsch said. "We had to jump back into the truck ... and avoid the hail."

The photo turned out to be like nothing he had ever taken.

"It looked to us like the mother ship was coming for us," he said.

The size and shape of the clouds and the green glow made the photo a standout.

National Geographic picked it as a top shot. Now, a panel of judges will decide whether its the best of the year. Winners will be announced in early December.