I was working away on some other photos up until around 8:30PM and then was watching some TV before heading to bed. I was just about to head on to bed when I noticed some lightning outside and a storm heading my way. I ran and got my tripod, 5DMKII and 24/105,remote cable release and set up on the back deck. Focused at infinity and started with 30 second exposures. Lightning was striking in several area's at once. I almost went back in to get another body and lens to have two going at once but I didn't want to leave. I could have set the remote release to take continuous 30sec shots, but didn't want to take the time to set that up either. I shot for about half an hour and knew I had captured at least 3 good strikes. It's SO amazing to have the shutter open and have a significant strike happen right in front of you! I stayed another ten minutes until it started pouring rain. I was so astonished when I loaded these and saw them for the first time! I was up till almost midnight editing and gawking. Even today, every time I look at this, I am in awe of the power of mother nature and the earth. I could look at these images for hours. They will for sure be printed and hung either at home or in my office. (-:
Another shot of lightning I came very close to entering in the FS.
And this is a 4 shot composite with downtown Denver to the right.
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Incredible, Dennis. I've never had an opportunity to even try. We always have such perfect weather in LA that scenes like this would be something of a miracle....
Well done on your image Dennis. Few people understand my infatuation with lightning. The other infatuation that lightning has also taught me in general about photography in general is the complete "bezerkness" i have with having the shutter open at the right time. If the fingers not on the button(remote) it aint gonna happen. Its a fraction of a second but 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 1/400th... It all boils down to capturing that one moment in time never to be seen again. Lightning only helps to appreciate that time in darkness as its so much more visible... Than the 1000s of fleeting moments every day we miss. But again if the shutter is not open... Its gone. I still see the couple of special bolts ive missed in my eyes vision because of my error and its a haunting that chases me to the next storm every time. Welcome to the feeling of seeing time frozen and melting away in a fraction of a second... Be sure to have the shutter open :)
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