NormBeaver

Lake Ontario Lightening

Between Toronto, Canada and Buffalo, U.S.A, over Lake Ontario, this lightening bolt flashes like an alien to our universe. See it's tail? :)...
Read more

Between Toronto, Canada and Buffalo, U.S.A, over Lake Ontario, this lightening bolt flashes like an alien to our universe. See it's tail? :)
Read less

DMC-FZ200

Aperture f/2.8 ISO 1000 Shutter 10/40

upload_date

Jul, 2013

Views

678

Likes

+21

Awards

Action Award

Chatter Award

Zenith Award

Creative Winter Award

Curator's Selection

Legendary Award

Great Shot

Absolute Masterpiece

+18

Superb Composition

+16

Top Choice

+15

Outstanding Creativity

Peer Award

All Star

Great Find

Superior Skill

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Behind The Lens

Location

I was in Mimico (South Etobicoke, Ontario) at a lakefront park. The lightening appears over Buffalo, New York; St Catherines, Ontario; Oshawa, Ontario and many other towns bordering Lake Ontario.

Time

The thunderstorm occurred around 11 PM at night.

Lighting

I was looking to create a stronger contrast between the Lake and the lightening. Gave the lake a darker composition yet keeping the light on the water as a path leading the viewers eye to the lightening.

Equipment

I use a Panasonic Lumix FZ200 with a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 25mm ultra-wide angle lens with a 24x optical zoom that achieves a full range F2.8. No tripod but had the camera set on a part of land that gave me some stability and could capture the angle of the shot. No flash, used a fast shutter speed as the lightening appears and disappears in seconds. I also had a cloth to keep lens dry.

Inspiration

During a thunderstorm that approached us in Toronto one summer night, I rushed away from my home down to Lake Ontario with my camera for some potential awesome photos. I love thunderstorms and recognized a big one was approaching us.

Editing

I utilized photoshop to give a clearer contrast and to allow the lightening pop out relative to the Lake. Gave some saturation to the Lake to provide some blue, but for the most part, played with the contrast and lighting balance.

In my camera bag

1 camera, 1 tripod, 1 set of eyes, 1 spare battery, 1 cloth, 1 spare SD card.

Feedback

Tripod will capture better. I didn't change the camera settings too often, but could've played a little more. Would have loved to capture more lightening shots, but to understand the timing as to WHEN lightening is about to show is difficult. Quite a guessing game. But to take away the guessing game, I would have taken 10,000 photos if I had the camera on continuous shooting. Sorting through would have taken hours. Keep a fast shutter speed. You'll lose the moment

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NormBeaver

NormBeaver

Lake Ontario Lightening

Between Toronto, Canada and Buffalo, U.S.A, over Lake Ontario, this lightening bolt flashes like an alien to our universe. See it's tail? :)... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow NormBeaver

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Between Toronto, Canada and Buffalo, U.S.A, over Lake Ontario, this lightening bolt flashes like an alien to our universe. See it's tail? :)...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.