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Jason Clark2
07-22-2009, 12:00 AM
I thought you guys might like to see some lightning photos I took in the last 24 hours. The 3 with the lake were taken about 9:30 last night. The 2 with the cactus were taken around 5:15 this morning.

I LOVE monsoon season.

Jason

James Roberts
07-22-2009, 12:11 AM
Very cool! First cactus pic might become my new wallpaper!

alex carey
07-22-2009, 12:56 AM
sweet pictures

Bill Blasic
07-22-2009, 7:40 AM
Jason,
Great Pictures!
Bill

Jeffrey Makiel
07-22-2009, 8:18 AM
Those are quite spectacular!
-Jeff :)

Robert Parrish
07-22-2009, 8:31 AM
I remember some of those storms when I was stationed in Fort Huachuca in the 60's. My wife and daughter used to hide in the bathroom until they were over! I now live in the lighting capital of the US - Florida!

Brian Effinger
07-22-2009, 8:56 AM
Cool photos Jason.

What was your exposure time on them?

Belinda Barfield
07-22-2009, 8:59 AM
Very nice Jason! I love storms. Thanks for sharing.

Steve Schlumpf
07-22-2009, 12:38 PM
Excellent photos Jason! I am also curious as to camera used and settings to get such photos! Very nice! Thanks for sharing!

Bruce Page
07-22-2009, 2:16 PM
Great pictures. We had some boomers throuh here last night as well.

Clara Koss
07-22-2009, 2:32 PM
the middle photo is my fave but all of them are great... watch out you don't get french fried!!!!:eek:

Jason Clark2
07-22-2009, 4:03 PM
Thanks for the kind words all.

I shoot with a Canon 10D digital SLR with a Sigma 15-30mm lens. Exposure mode was Bulb and the exposure time varied from 15-60 seconds with 20-25 the most common. (I believe the EXIF data is intact if you're computer savvy and want to see specifics on a specific photo). It takes hundreds and hundreds of exposures to come up with just a handful of keepers.

It also requires a sturdy tripod, a remote release to trigger the shutter, TONS of advance planning, and a bit of a death wish. I've had a couple of close calls (150 yards or less, the lightning strike and the thunder are nearly simultaneous at that distance) over the years but nothing that's prevented me from heading back out again. The last thing that's needed is TONS of patience. It's incredibly frustrating to miss a massive bolt because its just out of frame or because you were in between exposures.

Jason

Don Abele
07-22-2009, 4:09 PM
Being an avid photographer myself (with the same camera by the way), I must say those are spectacular catches. I know the feeling of shooting lightening as I've spent many an hour and hundreds and hundreds of shutter clicks pursuing them as well. But when you get just one, it's worth it all. And you've scored a handful. Congrats and again, nice shots.

Be well,

Doc

Dick Strauss
07-23-2009, 11:08 PM
Jason,
Have you ever considered one of these... http://www.lightningtrigger.com/ ?

Jason Clark2
07-25-2009, 1:23 AM
Dick, I've looked into a couple of times but at $329 plus a $55 cable it's out of my budget and I prefer my hands on method.

Jason

Dennis Peacock
07-25-2009, 9:18 AM
Here's a pic of the water spout we had here in Conway this week.

Jarrod McGehee
07-27-2009, 2:00 AM
Oh those are AWESOME pictures. I love watching lighting

Jason Clark2
07-27-2009, 2:29 PM
People normally think I'm crazy driving towards the lightning to get better pictures but I want no part of anything like what you've got there.


Here's a pic of the water spout we had here in Conway this week.

Dennis Peacock
07-28-2009, 12:17 PM
People normally think I'm crazy driving towards the lightning to get better pictures but I want no part of anything like what you've got there.

Jason,
I've been in 3 tornadoes before and the closest one blew me and my grandfather off my grandfather's porch into the yard...from which we both ran the rest of the way to the storm shelter under ground. I've been near and helped look for survivors in at least 3 F4 twisters and been far too close to 1 F5 twister. I was raised in Alabama and remember one time in my early teens that we had 13 tornadoes in a single night. When the sun came up...it wasn't pretty for many, many people in the county. I don't fear them but I do respect them and do all I can to protect my family from the dangers when one comes near.