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Storm Rider



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Awards

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Top Shot Award 21
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Elite Performance PNY Card
Contest Finalist in Stormy Weather Photo Contest
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Absolute Masterpiece
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Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
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Categories


59 Comments | Report
itsnickelwell
 
itsnickelwell July 29, 2014
Wow
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto November 25, 2014
Thanks
DebbieKMiller81 Platinum
 
DebbieKMiller81 July 30, 2014
Great shot.
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thanks!
amytimbs
 
amytimbs November 25, 2014
Just beautiful :)
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thanks!
terrywelling
 
terrywelling November 25, 2014
GARESPHOTOGRAPHY
 
GARESPHOTOGRAPHY January 06, 2015
Congratulations!
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thanks!
thomaszakowski
 
thomaszakowski January 06, 2015
awesome capture, congrats
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thanks!
AlanJakarta
 
AlanJakarta January 06, 2015
Brilliant capture. Congratulations on being the Winner.
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thanks!
Amyart5
 
Amyart5 January 07, 2015
wow such a dramatic sky photo... so nice
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You!
kat777 Platinum
 
kat777 January 07, 2015
Fantastic!!!
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You!
suzettehilarides
 
suzettehilarides January 07, 2015
WOW Love it !!!!
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You!
kevinsanders
 
kevinsanders January 07, 2015
Love the wild fire reflecting off the cloud in the back
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You! and thanks for noticing!
Jo-AnnGallagher
 
Jo-AnnGallagher January 07, 2015
Congratulations on a stellar shot.
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You!
yourlily
 
yourlily January 08, 2015
A super stunner.
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You!
DavesAdventures
 
DavesAdventures January 08, 2015
Beautiful shot. How many frames is this put together to get this creation?
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You! and Just one shot
davidbidmead
 
davidbidmead January 09, 2015
Congratulations ! Spectacular !
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You!
janland PRO+
 
janland January 10, 2015
Fabulous capture! Perfect timing! Congrats!
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto January 28, 2015
Thank You!
SmithPhoto
 
SmithPhoto January 10, 2015
Thank you all for your wonderful comments!
IsabellaD Premium
 
IsabellaD March 01, 2015
STUNNING capture, voted in Magical Light !!
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto March 01, 2015
Thanks!
leighlofgren
 
leighlofgren March 30, 2015
stunning
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto April 30, 2015
Thank you
Flemming
 
Flemming May 28, 2015
Crazy picture.. so great :)
michelledimascio
 
michelledimascio June 01, 2015
Love it!
Cla6Ssy0
 
Cla6Ssy0 June 20, 2015
Stunning!!!
The_Nighthawk
 
The_Nighthawk June 22, 2015
WHOA ! ! ! Jump BAACK!!!
danielchan
 
danielchan June 22, 2015
Powerful!
Oceanblue22
 
Oceanblue22 June 27, 2015
Super...Wow!
ImagesByLouisa
 
ImagesByLouisa June 27, 2015
stunning
Climbnride58 PRO+
 
Climbnride58 June 29, 2015
An amazing photography.
gldosa PRO+
 
gldosa July 28, 2015
Wow - what a great impact shot!
davidbidmead
 
davidbidmead September 03, 2015
Congrats ! Stunning image !
staceysherlock
 
staceysherlock September 22, 2015
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
staceysherlock
 
staceysherlock September 22, 2015
Sell me this print please! Would look amazing in my living room!
eileenbrunerdryden
 
eileenbrunerdryden December 23, 2015
Beautiful!
marystilwell
 
marystilwell May 26, 2016
Awesome!
edwinlee
 
edwinlee May 30, 2016
Amazing ^_^
kezza7 Platinum
 
kezza7 June 01, 2016
congrates on your win ..an amazing photo
elainemalott
 
elainemalott June 01, 2016
wow, what a great shot!
RosaDawn
 
RosaDawn September 11, 2016
simply amazing, so powerful
cyrillinegoodman
 
cyrillinegoodman October 11, 2016
AMAZING capture! Congratulations.
philipdrispin
 
philipdrispin November 03, 2016
When I am not taking pictures I teach meteorology at a university in Texas. I spend a lot of time looking at weather images to use in lectures. This one is very beautiful. I am curious as to what you used as a trigger?
MikeW Platinum
 
MikeW November 04, 2016
Spectacular capture; congrats!
Mad_bubbles PRO
 
Mad_bubbles November 05, 2016
Absolutely amazing
tcmiturlu
 
tcmiturlu November 17, 2016
really wonderfull (y) I loved
FlyingEagle
 
FlyingEagle April 11, 2017
Incredible power in this shot! The darker borders draw attention to the center of the image and create better contrast to highlight the power of the lightning bolt. Great composition.
HigginsworthPhotography
 
HigginsworthPhotography October 15, 2017
Great shot
singwydionjones
 
singwydionjones December 05, 2017
????????????????
DNproSTUDIO
 
DNproSTUDIO October 23, 2018
very nice shoot moment
Time-Is-Momentary
 
Time-Is-Momentary November 05, 2018
Phenomenal!
hfickingerphoto
 
hfickingerphoto November 06, 2018
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
hfickingerphoto
 
hfickingerphoto November 06, 2018
Incredible image Paul.
Queenofphotos
 
Queenofphotos February 11, 2019
this so speaks to me. the power behind this is amazing
shannonsmyth
 
shannonsmyth March 08, 2019
Woah.
HER_photography
 
HER_photography September 30, 2019
Holy !
karensommerslohre PRO+
 
karensommerslohre October 29, 2019
Great capture!!!
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto May 09, 2020
Thank you 😊
geetpatil
 
geetpatil November 09, 2019
amazing
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto May 09, 2020
Thank you 😊
RickL PRO+
 
RickL March 20, 2020
A truly amazing photo
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto May 09, 2020
Thank you 😊
sugendrannagandran
 
sugendrannagandran April 24, 2020
Amazing
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto May 09, 2020
Thank you 😊
luciegagnon
 
luciegagnon May 09, 2020
Awesome image! Wow!
SmithPhoto
SmithPhoto May 09, 2020
Thank you 😊
marysorberdye Ultimate
 
marysorberdye January 05, 2022
My jaw is still on the floor. Your photography is over the top!~Stunning!~
jimycanale
 
jimycanale October 20, 2022
Very cool shot ! Beautiful
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Southern Utah Desert in the middle of NOWHERE!

Time

Late on a summer evening

Lighting

Lightning Is probably my most favorite "thing" to capture. Awe inspiring, captivating, powerful and always exciting. This particular strike was a mere 500 yards from me the shock and blasting sound of the strike was almost as instant as the blinding bright light. This bolt and several others in the same vicinity were some of the most impressive of the summer. That Night I stood alone in the pitch black darkness, the warmth of summer would quickly vanish as the cool air of the storm would sneak in and surround me, then bring with it the energy and power of the storm! I always find it a challenge to be pointed in the right place, close enough for the capture, yet far enough away from danger. I have had a few hit so close it felt like Dynamite. Those are the nights you really give respect to the power of the storm and move on to challenge it another time.

Equipment

I typically keep it simple as possible, my Canon 7d, a 10-22mm, 28-135mm or a 24-70mm, Manfroto tripod and Head, simple interleave timer / Remote and a Gallon Ziplock with the corner cut out to keep the rain out of the camera. Honestly I don't remember which lens was on for this shot but I will never forget how loud it was!

Inspiration

Lightning! Lightning is always an inspiration in itself and here in the southwest desert there are far too many good storms during the monsoon season. Diligently I watch the weather maps and storm trackers waiting, listening and watching for any signs of a storm I drop everything and grab my gear to chase any storm from the biggest to the smallest, even if I don't take the camera out of the bag there is just something energizing and exciting about a thunderstorm!

Editing

Some light room, usually to adjust white balance and a little noise clean up. Beyond that I think the shot and the subject should do the work!

In my camera bag

I am a gear head and love to test and use the latest and greatest every chance I get but the truth is I keep a 50mm, a 10-22mm, a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm which is usually on my camera body at all times. The rest of the kit is typical, filters, cleaning supplies, batteries and so on.

Feedback

Truth is I tried everything until I realized you can simply open the shutter (with the right settings) and wait for a flash, then shut it! check your focus, ISO white balance etc and repeat! as long as your camera is stable , focused and you get your settings right for the ambient light and noise pollution you can leave the shutter open for quite a long time and still get a beautiful capture.

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