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Bolt from the Blue



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A lightning strike at the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, Longreach, Queensland, Australia

A lightning strike at the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, Longreach, Queensland, Australia
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7 Comments | Report
PurelyInspiredbyKaran PRO+
 
PurelyInspiredbyKaran August 01, 2015
Beautiful. I have always wanted to get a good shot of a lightning bolt, but just never got a good one. This is one of the best shots of one I have ever seen.
GaddelineFPhotography
 
GaddelineFPhotography August 19, 2015
Stunning!!!!!
digger12
 
digger12 September 03, 2015
Wonderful
pedronunoferreira
 
pedronunoferreira September 05, 2015
Impressive. So well photographed. Excellent
thetylermorale
 
thetylermorale August 04, 2017
That main largest bolt is INSANE how wide it is. Great capture
AnnHopta PRO+
 
AnnHopta July 13, 2020
Fantastic capture!
VARINA
 
VARINA March 18, 2021
WOW
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Behind The Lens

Location

I took this photo in the grounds of the Longreach Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, a small outback town in Queensland, Australia

Time

This was taken at about 9.13pm at night. It was a pitch black night and a really hot night. The storm was a dry electrical storm with no rain which was fortunate because it would have been very difficult to take in rain.

Lighting

I had been waiting for two hours crouched beside my car. I didn't want to be a magnet for any lightning bolts! I was quite nervous as it was pitch black and a very hot night so brown snakes (very poisonous) would have been quite active in the area. I actually thought I could hear them slithering past but when I flashed the torch it was only kangaroos feeding nearby. I used my 30 second timer and kept repeating the 30 seconds over a period of a couple of hours. As it was so hot I was expecting that I would be getting some very noisy photos. I was also hoping that I would get lighting over the actual Hall of Fame. Then suddenly there was a huge crack of thunder and a blinding flash of lightning quite close to me. The force of the bolt knocked me from my stool and I kicked the tripod over. I couldn't see for a few minutes because the flash was so bright. I got myself up and reset the tripod and kept going for another hour. I didn't think I'd got the lightning bolt as I'd kicked the tripod over but when I got home I was absolutely thrilled to see that I did get the bolt. I couldn't believe my luck!!

Equipment

This was shot on a Canon EOS 1DX, an EF 16-35mm lens, tripod and a timer

Inspiration

I love storms and do the odd bit of storm chasing if I know the conditions are right ie no rain just lightning. It doesn't happen that often but usually the dry electrical storms are the best for lightning.

Editing

I didn't do much to this at all. I straightened the horizon and removed some noise. The photo is pretty much exactly how it happened.

In my camera bag

My Canon EOS 1DX, 16-35mm lens, 70-300mm lens, tripod, remote switch for long exposure, some cleaning wipes for the lens and that's usually about as much as I can carry.

Feedback

In the storm season, check weather maps for likely looking storms. We have a very good system in Australia which shows us quite detailed local images of where storms are heading and I am constantly watching these for any photo opportunities. Before you go out try to choose a site that has some foreground interest. I generally know the sites around town that would make interesting foregrounds and go straight to them if I know the storm is heading in that direction. You need loads of patience and it can be quite scary sitting in total darkness. I sat there for two hours before I got this image. In a storm there's plenty happening around you so you don't get bored. It is VERY important that you are sheltered or not the highest point in the area when there is lightning around, preferably not under a tree! I didn't have a smartphone at the time which would have been handy so I could keep an eye on where the storm was going and when it had finally moved on.

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