Super-Cell Crawler
A single image from a storm that crept across South-East Queensland (03-Dec-2016), taken from the Redcliffe Jetty.
A single image from a storm that crept across South-East Queensland (03-Dec-2016), taken from the Redcliffe Jetty.
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Dec, 2016Views
1290
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Powerful Lightning Photo Contest
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
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Behind The Lens
Location
Taken from the Redcliffe Jetty in North Brisbane looking north toward Scarborough.Time
It was about 8:00pm, after a long and fruitless day.Lighting
Lighting? Well, it's not often the subject of your photo is essentially its own light source.Equipment
This was shot on my Canon 1100D and EF-S 18-55mm lens, mounted on my Manfrotto 290xtra tripod.Inspiration
There were three of us, and myself and a friend had driven probably about 400km that day from site to site, and neither of us had gotten a single shot that we were happy with. We ended up at a car show, that promptly got cancelled before it even really got started, due to a severe weather warning. At this point, along with another friend we met up with at the car show, we made the decision to see if we could catch some lightning, and tried to get a bit ahead of two storm cells coming together to form a "super-cell." After a frustrating day, I was determined to get one shot that would make the day all worth it.Editing
This was processed in Lightroom and Colour Efex Pro 4. You have to be careful of your highlights with lightning, while getting the other elements in the shot exposed the way you want them, and colour can be a real challenge.In my camera bag
A couple of Canon camera bodies, one of my choosing or two if I can fit them in, depending on the shoot. I prefer my Canon 5D MkIII which is a full-frame, but a crop sensor still comes in handy at times. I always carry my Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS, it is such a great piece of glass. A Canon 50mm f1.8 STM & my Sigma Art 24-70mm f2.8 OS. The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III will be my next purchase, which will complete a more full transition to full frame for my carry around kit. Along with camera and lenses, I also have in my backpack a couple of Canon 430EXII Speedlite's with some small diffusers, a Rapid Strap, some NISI ND Filters with holder and adaptor, a CPL Filter, remote shutter release, lens hoods, a couple of extra memory cards and batteries, battery charger, and some microfibre cloths. I also take a Manfrotto 290xtra Tripod almost everywhere I go.Feedback
If you want to capture lightning, know various places where you can go to set up and shoot from. You're usually going to need somewhere undercover (if it's raining where you are, yet somewhere with a good field of view, and somewhere that makes for decent foreground or other elements in your shot. A decent wide-angle lens, tripod, and remote trigger are essentials.
