The Lightning Dome
A large storm cell with dangerous lightning passes the city of Brisbane Australia.
A large storm cell with dangerous lightning passes the city of Brisbane Australia.
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Dec, 2014Views
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Contest Finalist in City Lights Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Night Lights Photo Contest
Winner in Impressive clouds Photo Challenge
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p_eileenbaltz
November 13, 2015
Wow!!! Congratulations on your feature and your other awards for this image.:)
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken overlooking the City of Brisbane in Queensland Australia. I was positioned on top of Mt Cootha which is a popular lookout for everyone. It provides a great vantage point for anything facing North/North East.Time
This image was captured just after 7pm. The sunset was well over and night had began really letting the stars shine through. The sunset had occurred over my shoulder so it meant the storm was in the darkest part of the early night sky.Lighting
I think lightning really speak's for itself. It's strong, powerful and also deadly if not taken seriously and treated with respect. This night it was travelling through clear air and striking kilometer's or Miles away from the storm system itself at times. It really is mother natures power at it's best. But also mother natures power at her worst.Equipment
I used on this evening my Nikon D7100 with a Tamron 10-24mm wide angle lens. I also used a cordless remote and a Sirix Digital Max3556 tripod. Nothing more was needed on this night as i was not near the rain.Inspiration
I absolutely love storm Photography. The beauty and power are so visible to us that it is something we can all see and experience. I use to be afraid of storm's and then one day I watched one from a distance and just felt I had truly seen beauty. Since that day I have spend every chance I get trying to photograph severe storm's and weather systems in general. I feel in many way's I can relate to a storm. I suffer from Bipolar so to watch something so peaceful one minute and so angry and powerful the next is a feeling I can really relate to. It has also assisted in me getting out into the world and to challenge myself as-well as helping with my Bipolar.Editing
I did a slight adjustment on the clarity and I lowered the whites as the city was a slight bit over-exposed compared to the lightning and cloud. Otherwise I was very lucky this night as the long exposure was more than enough to capture everything. A slight breeze was around so I left Vibration reduction on to counter the mild shake the camera would get at times.In my camera bag
On any given day my bag has the following. A Nikon D7100 and at times a D5200. A Standard Nikor 18-55 mm lens. A Nikor 55-300 mm lens with hood. A Tamron 10-24mm wide angle lens with lens hood. A patchmaster lightning trigger (for dangerous storm systems) and a wireless remote also. I have a few graduating filters but don't use them as they are too hard to keep dry in storm's.Feedback
The biggest is to focus on your image or area and then switch auto focus off. It allows rapid shot's without the need to refocus after every image. Also know the surrounding's and remember the danger's. Remotes are good as you can sit in your car out of harm's way. It won't protect you fully but will provide some safety. Lightning can travel kilometer's or miles from the main storm structure so even being outside the storm looking in can be a risk. I would also recommend you check your Iso. In the city like this I would not want to go over I think 200 and may stay at even just Iso-100. But the same system in a rural area away from light's may require for example Iso400-600 and a full 20-30sec exposure. And most of all check your first few shot's to make sure you focused right. You don't want hundred's of images with in-focus foreground but blurry lightning.
