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Riders of the Storm
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Riders of the Storm



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Comments and critique welcome. For prints, please visit: http:--www.CreativeMindsPhotographyAndArt.com

Comments and critique welcome. For prints, please visit: http:--www.CreativeMindsPhotographyAndArt.com
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cameraNIKON D800

settings Aperture f/3.5 ISO 200 Shutter 97/1 

upload_dateJul, 2014

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2096

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Awards

Featured
Contest Finalist in Covers Photo Contest Vol 25
Staff Favorite
Peer Award
Ulysees smileyhls Jaspa Vorster gman176 PhotosByJEM davidjprosser +91
Superb Composition
AshleyHarrisPhotography FTomimbang Amy..Drew Selswick fredsaunders PWiesner sxsvexen +26
Top Choice
magnus_fett alincota RandyL Avantgarda charlesdpeters stevegodwin Lesharvey +21
Absolute Masterpiece
KenBrakefield larryollivier bsube 1Ernesto Tammy526 tomergat AlexSt +16
Outstanding Creativity
Ritsikas66 texaaronpueschel Rafail_Chrys Kenkidner davidedgertongrant AltimatePhotography jimgarrison +6
Magnificent Capture
Resquin Matt_Porter_Wildlife kathykuhn100 TLien cynthiabroomfield Burkholder TexasJarhead +5
All Star
Reebee JeanM Gayle_Solis LightstalkerPhotography AlanJakarta
Superior Skill
billbrandon pacoweaving ianquerruel JimmieRatliff
Jaw Dropping
sweetpea72
Exceptional Contrast
LindaT
One Of A Kind
MatthewDavidGager

Emotions

Impressed
Cruiser87

Top Ranks

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Categories

6 Comments |
stamatispappas
 
stamatispappas July 08, 2014
Beautiful!
sweetpea72
 
sweetpea72 July 08, 2014
OMG...Absolutely incredible ")
vastdreamer
 
vastdreamer July 09, 2014
Was this from last night or the last few nights?
melda
 
melda July 09, 2014
Spectacular!!!
claricemariani
 
claricemariani July 13, 2014
amazing....
shema PRO
 
shema November 08, 2015
composite? love storms, excellent image!

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#lightning #nature #clouds #storm #mother nature #power #thunder #mountains #landscape #naturescape
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

This image was taken in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction Arizona.

Time

Seeing the storm start to roll in around sunset time, I immediately began heading out to this area. It was around 8pm when I finally got there, got setup, and started shooting the lightning.

Lighting

Long shutter speeds (about 15s or so). To capture lightning one has to keep the shutter open until the lightning strikes, then close the shutter. This method essentially "captures" the lightning strike.

Equipment

Nikon D800, 24-70mm F2.8 Nikor Lens, Manfroto 055CXPRO3 with ball mount head.

Inspiration

The power of mother nature is all the inspiration I need. As long as that power is not directly over my head! LOL

Editing

Yes! This is actually a composite of 3 images. Trying to capture 3 lightning strikes is near impossible (though it can be done, just depends on the intensity of the storm). I took about 20 shots of this area over the course of an hour. I picked the best 3 lightning strikes and brought them into photoshop. I then used blending techniques to bring all of the lightning into this single, composite image.

In my camera bag

Everything... Nikon D800, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 105mm macro, flashes, flash triggers, and my very handy Velbon remote shutter release.

Feedback

As I mentioned early, the easiest method that I have found is to keep the shutter open until the lightning strikes then close the shutter. You need a steady tripod, a remote trigger, and lots of patience. Set your f-stop to a number that works well based off the ambient light and with the knowledge that I lightning strike will light up the sky quite significantly. This is a trial and error process, so just keep at it until you get what you like.

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