michaelwilson
michaelwilson
Stormy

Stormy



Lightning during a summer thunderstorm at Watson Lake in Prescott, Arizona

Lightning during a summer thunderstorm at Watson Lake in Prescott, Arizona
Read less
upload_dateAug, 2015

Views

8874

Likes

Awards

Contest Finalist in Layers and Rule Of Thirds Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in HDR Landscapes Photo Contest Explore Series
Contest Finalist in Earth Day 2016 Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in World Expeditions Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Discover America Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Exploring The Wilderness Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Landscapes 101 Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Amazing Sceneries Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 14 Photo Contest
  View more
Peer Award
keithns12 davidjprosser amirdarzi Vash01Photo jorgealbertopealozapealoza vincentdovey puck +373
Superb Composition
puthearithkret Laura_Ellie090 lyndellanne siankoguru karlitogutlay MichaelMorse joogilves +248
Absolute Masterpiece
cleake cameronmcclintock candyeckman VenueImages DMunchie dsgrigs akankshagulati +226
Top Choice
penfolds josefotograf jamiedorsey wandalee13 marianisis cameronjpenny Phillip2r +144
Magnificent Capture
wxguy12 DJCP StanVG hippo_crates Burnettj ArthurGCowan DomenicRc +64
Outstanding Creativity
sharonmcdonald saraevans_9864 kallolmahalanabis gregory__urbano GELeka Road-Runner BrunoHeeb +62
All Star
EJGJRobyn AwayFromOrdinary PatricaK nancyb926 KumaranK shaundasmithroberts robbiewade +24
Superior Skill
diegoscaglione StevenPasternack katherineplessner Mntnapoet Tommyshot Wanderlust77 beckykempf +16
Genius
Damsan AprilRoseMore Eileens_Moments Kitsea Jen_Thurston scottkingman gregkrezos +2
Love it
JohnDMcDonald Pamelabole Samer-Bayda BearMesaPhoto maryannesiemer photobomb1500 JenLioness +1

Emotions

Impressed
vvv004 RMCROC Koralin

Top Ranks

All About Water Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
View more
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Talent AwardsTop 10 rank
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Water Photo Contest 2017Top 10 rank
Water Photo Contest 2017Top 10 rank week 1
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Layers and Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Layers and Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Layers and Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Celebrating Nature Photography Day Photo Contest 2016Top 10 rank
Celebrating Nature Photography Day Photo Contest 2016Top 10 rank week 2
Celebrating Nature Photography Day Photo Contest 2016Top 10 rank week 1
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 3Top 10 rank
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 3Top 10 rank week 2
HDR Landscapes Photo Contest Explore SeriesTop 10 rank
HDR Landscapes Photo Contest Explore SeriesTop 10 rank week 2
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 3Top 10 rank week 1
HDR Landscapes Photo Contest Explore SeriesTop 10 rank week 1
The Beauty Of My Hometown Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Beauty Of My Hometown Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Earth Day 2016 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Earth Day 2016 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
World Expeditions Photo ContestTop 10 rank
World Expeditions Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Covers Photo Contest Vol 28Top 10 rank
Covers Photo Contest Vol 28Top 20 rank week 2
HDR Waterscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
HDR Waterscapes Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Covers Photo Contest Vol 28Top 20 rank week 1
HDR Landscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
HDR Landscapes Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Discover America Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Discover America Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Discover America Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Exploring The Wilderness Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Exploring The Wilderness Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Monthly Pro Vol 17 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Monthly Pro Vol 17 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank week 1
Covers Photo Contest Vol 25Top 10 rank
Covers Photo Contest Vol 25Top 10 rank week 1
The Outdoors Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Landscapes 101 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Wide Angle & Fish Eye Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Landscapes 101 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Wide Angle & Fish Eye Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Outdoors Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Along The Shore Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Along The Shore Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Amazing Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Amazing Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Inspiring Places Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Inspiring Places Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Trey Ratcliffs Put Your Best Foot Forward Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Photographer Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 12Top 10 rank
Outdoor Galore Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Photographer Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 12Top 10 rank week 1
Outdoor Galore Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Water World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Water World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Monthly Pro Vol 14 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Monthly Pro Vol 14 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

Categories

27 Comments | Report
RuwanFonseka PRO
 
RuwanFonseka August 05, 2015
Well crafted image.
sharlenescarboroughdodds
 
sharlenescarboroughdodds August 24, 2015
jaw dropping WOW!
fabs
 
fabs September 21, 2015
WOW
where was this taken? its fantastic! the light, the textures, everything! CONGRATULATIONS! :)
DebbieKMiller81 Ultimate
 
DebbieKMiller81 September 22, 2015
WOW, what a gorgeous shot. I just love it. Well done.
JoanLoBo Platinum
 
JoanLoBo October 24, 2015
superior clarity.
didoman PRO+
 
didoman October 25, 2015
WOW -WOW WHAT A GREAT PICTURE AND AWESOME CAMERA WORK
timguzmanphotography
 
timguzmanphotography November 15, 2015
Awesome shot. Great lighting, composition, and lightning strike. The water level sure is low, we sure need some rain.
KoralC PRO
 
KoralC November 29, 2015
Superb!
Silverdarkness Platinum
 
Silverdarkness December 03, 2015
Stunning composition.
bdreyer1
 
bdreyer1 December 13, 2015
I love Watson Lake!!
LindaT
 
LindaT December 15, 2015
Stunning wow!
Fujiguy PRO+
 
Fujiguy February 13, 2016
Everything comes together in this superb image. Draws the viewer in and demands exploration of every detail.
CMEYN PRO+
 
CMEYN February 22, 2016
Congratulations on your Daily Dozen selection at NG today! :-)
juvyjgreen
 
juvyjgreen March 01, 2016
Just wow! May I know where is this place?
johneddy
johneddy March 21, 2016
this is watson lake In Prescott AZ
GayleLucci Platinum
 
GayleLucci May 05, 2016
Congratulations Michael! Love this vantage point at Watson Lake. Beautifully captured! Gayle
hhaggins
 
hhaggins May 22, 2016
Beautiful look at God's beautiful work.
AprilMetten
 
AprilMetten May 29, 2016
Beautiful!
LauraEm
 
LauraEm August 13, 2016
Amazing work! Voted!!
Redhorse89
 
Redhorse89 September 25, 2016
I recognized this place immediately. Nice work!
jenibrown
 
jenibrown February 07, 2017
I love how each time I've looked at this I notice something new. Awesome picture!
AleksanderTomczuk
 
AleksanderTomczuk April 13, 2017
What a shoot!!! What a place!!!
Neckbone
 
Neckbone August 05, 2017
Great shot!
Elithunder
 
Elithunder August 21, 2017
So beautiful! Wonderful shot!!
Alwolfe Premium
 
Alwolfe October 04, 2017
Great capture!
HigginsworthPhotography
 
HigginsworthPhotography October 06, 2017
Awesome
leannedelong
 
leannedelong July 19, 2018
Absolutely stunning 🙌🏻
Sammyjane123
 
Sammyjane123 August 03, 2018
Beautiful!

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#Michael Wilson #prescott #landscape #lightning #az #arizona #Watson Lake #storm

Behind The Lens

Location
This photo was taken during the summer thunderstorm season at Watson Lake, in Prescott, Arizona.
Time
This is definitely one of my favorite images, and I'm glad that other people seem to like it as well. During the summer in the southwest, thunderstorms routinely move in during the daytime. I had scouted out this location, and was prepared for when an afternoon thunderstorm was making it's way across the lake. This was taken before I had a lighting trigger, so I setup the tripod and camera, on top of this precarious rock formation. I then just kept shooting 10-second intervals. I didn't know if I had captured a lighting strike or not until I got back to the computer to review the images.
Lighting
I often hear from other photographers that lightning is the scariest type of storm event to be in. In this image, the storm was moving away from me, so I felt fairly safe. It is definitely a thrill to capture a nice lighting bolt to add another element to an already good composition & image.
Equipment
I used my Nikon D7000 with the 12 to 24mm lens on a tripod. No other equipment was utilized.
Inspiration
I live near Watson Lake and visit it often, so I've become very familiar with good compositions at the lake. Watson Lake is such a picturesque location to begin with. Add to it interesting stormy skies, and you definitely come away with a "keeper" image.
Editing
Because I was continuously shooting images to try and get a lightning bolt, I had quite a few different shots. The sun would peek out from behind the clouds and light the scene in different ways. I started with the image that showed the lighting bolt, then combine a couple different shots where the lighting of the ground was better in particular areas. I also used some HDR processing.
In my camera bag
I always carry my tripod. For lenses, I carry my Nikkor 12-24mm and Nikkor 28-300mm. I feel these two lenses give me enough focal length coverage for most landscape photography situations. There is nothing worse than realizing you left your battery charging back at home, or left your SD card in the card reader, so extra batteries and SD cards are a must. During thunderstorm season, I now carry my lighting trigger too.
Feedback
Summer thunderstorms in the southwest are great, mainly because they are fairly reliable. A stormy sky is great, but it should definitely be balanced with a great composition of the land. Always keep in mind that storms naturally move, so you always have to be thinking about potential other compositions if the action starts happening in a different spot or location.

See more amazing photos, follow michaelwilson

VIEWBUG
Join to share your photos
Already have a VIEWBUG account? Log In

*By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and to receive VIEWBUG emails & updates and acknowledge that read our Privacy Policy.