Living in Florida, we have the most amazing lightning packed thunderstorms!
After leaving a meeting last night, the sky was filled with large broken cumulus clouds and a warm orange glow filled the western horizon. Rain had recently fallen, as the ground was wet. Driving home I noticed, through the trees, some lightning off to the east. A large towering thunderhead was drifting eastward away from the area.
The timing was perfect. Usually storms here are so intense and sudden, it’s just not safe even trying to shoot anything. This time we had darkened, early evening skies, no other storms overhead, and the storm in focus was moving away.
I raced (as safely as possible) to an area with an open foreground. Jumping from my car, I literally grabbed my camera and tripod in a single motion and set up for the shot. I starting shooting ISO 200, f/11 at 2 secs., as time and the sun faded, I moved up to ISO 400, f5.6 at 4 – 6 secs. The mosquitos in the ditch had not eaten in weeks. They were well fed last night. I released the shutter and frantically swatted the little boogers as best possible. When the shutter closed, I’d re-fire and continue flailing my arms about. At first I wished I had purchased the very cool lightning shutter release (Lightning Trigger). I’ve looked at this device for some time, but with the dim light and long exposures it wasn’t necessary, I was getting great results. Lightning was exploding within the clouds lighting them from within like a Tiffany lamp.
Then the one lucky strike happened. Lucky, because I was actually shooting, instead of between shots. A cloud to ground bolt struck on the outside of the cloud mass right within the frame. I almost grabbed the camera to “chimp”, which would have blurred the 6 second expose.
Luck, timing, and preparation (always have the camera on hand) all came together – Lucky Strike!
by Kent Weakley
show hide 2 comments