Any Portlanders enjoy the lightning this evening?

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

05/25/2008 12:24:51 AM · #1

Lightning is not common in the Northwest. In fact, I believe I may have even posted a thread the last time we had a storm which was about a year ago. We enjoyed a nice thunderstorm this even along with a pretty spectacular sunset. I wasn't at any vantage to take pictures, but enjoyed watching it. I'm only annoyed because I put weed and feed on the lawn today and it's all washed off the weeds now. :(

We started with some most excellent photographer's light at sunset. The trees behind us had the tops all aglow with that warm golden light that is produced when the sun peaks between the horizon and a layer of clouds. Then the sky changed to the thunderstorm clouds which here, at least, are always a very homogenous color with almost no detail. This happened at the exact right time and as the sun set the whole sky was a homogenous orange. It was very intense. I snapped a picture, but the no edit doesn't do it justice (and if I edited it then you wouldn't believe me it looked like that). Finally the lightning began to move across the sky. Most was cloud-to-cloud lightning with purple flashes, but a few would fall to the ground.

I love lightning and do miss it very much from places like Albany, NY and Pittsburgh, PA. The NW has a lot going for it, but two things I miss are lightning and fireflies. :)

Message edited by author 2008-05-25 00:26:00.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

05/25/2008 12:29:38 AM · #2

I'm jealous!! :)

njsabs

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/25/2008 12:35:17 AM · #3

I just got home from driving in it. I was so scared. It was an absolute downpour. I could barely see. Many of the cars on the highway were stopped in the middle of the freeway because visibility was so awful. I am still shaking. Whew......got my heart pumping.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

05/25/2008 12:37:35 AM · #4

Don't you get storms like that in LA?

Here's a no-edit straight from JPG shot of the sky. It still doesn't really do it justice, but you can get a feel for how the whole quadrant of sky was the same brilliant orange.

[thumb]681737[/thumb]

BeeCee

Nikon D40

05/25/2008 12:37:49 AM · #5

Originally posted by njsabs2323:

Yeah, THAT part I don't envy. Last one I drove in was in the Rockies at night, driving blinded between flashes with rain so heavy we had to keep going because we couldn't see well enough to pull off and trust we didn't pull too far off and go down an embankment. Thankfully it didn't last long, because I don't think my nerves could have taken much more.

05/25/2008 12:39:36 AM · #6

Originally posted by njsabs2323:

Must have been where you were. Up on the hill it was raining, but I wouldn't call it dumping. Funny how things can be really localized. Glad you are safe. Your first year up here has certainly not been the norm weatherwise.

njsabs

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/25/2008 12:50:34 AM · #7

Don't you get storms like that in LA?

I never have been in a downpour quite like this. I was driving in from Astoria after spending a lovely day there. And, duh, I didn't take one boat picture. UGH! It was beautiful until about 30 minutes out from Camas taking the 5 south from Longview. I still have shaking knees.

05/25/2008 01:11:24 AM · #8

Originally posted by njsabs2323:

What?!? This guy is only like 10 minutes away!

njsabs

Canon EOS-5D Mark II