Acuity
The Power Scribble
Posted by Rick (Toronto, Canada) on 10 August 2012 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
During the volatile evening I enjoyed these differences in sky colour and this little direction change/loop was fascinating. It was something that I didn't perceive with the naked eye because my attention was affixed upon the top of the tower.
@john4jack: And at the same time quite hot. Thanks, Jack.
@Mooie: Ha ha... it's showing off. Or celebrating a direct hit, since this is probably a return strike as many bolts are. Either way, I'll take a loop any time as long as it isn't a noose or my neck involved. Cheers, Mooie.
@Stephen: The strikes are so quick that our eyes can barely perceive their dynamics and entirety, which made this loop a nice after-the-fact treat for me. Thanks and same to you !
@Francisco Romero: I captured a lot of personal firsts with lightning during this past calendar year. I have some frames that depict the final vestiges of power as the bolts collapse, and one of those might make an interesting post in future. Thanks for looking and commenting. I'm enjoying your landscapes again; very nice to have you back.
@Nigel: It was a night of plenty, but I am always reluctant to run a long series of such images. It tends to lessen the impact, I think. Three frames for this serial will be quite sufficient. Thanks a lot, Nigel.
@L'Angevine: Quelque chose d'un peu hors de l'ordinaire. Commentaire = merci.
@Dimitrios: I grew up loving these types of storms. As a child, scared but amazed. As an adult, awed by the raw indifferent power. We have an Aminus3 member who is a storm chaser with his wife (Jason and Karen), and he has posted some jaw dropping storm images. Thanks, Dimitrios.
@Anthony Morgan Lambert: Thanks. I finally smartened up and began to use my tripod on a more regular basis !
@Curly: Glad you think so, Curly. I enjoy sharing these types of natural events and feel fortunate to witness them... safely !
@grouser: Thanks, and yes I do wonder. Is it a path of least resistance thing? And what resistance would there be up there?
@Mhelene: The sky hue ranges from rich purple to all sorts of pink and everything in between and around. Fascinating what that kind of voltage discharge will do to the air. Thank you.
@Laurette: Mother Nature does all the work and gets no generous comment like the humble photographer does ;-) Thanks!
@Doug: Thank you !
@Martine: Je pourrais lancer une série de douze images, mais trois, c'est assez pour celui-ci. Merci beaucoup !
@Joyce: The chaotic energies of this phenomena resemble some sort of ultimate freedom, as it goes helter skelter through the sky and ground, all of it dangerous. Yeah, I know those types of storms that you describe here, and some of the ones I experienced on lake Huron's shore were hair raising in their proclamations of sonic doom. Very tough on our domestic animal friends, too, sometimes. I have HD movie capability on my camera and hardly ever use it. Next big storm like this, I'm going to ! Thanks, Joyce.
@Evelyne Dubos: I appreciate you having a look and leaving your reaction. Have a nice weekend !
@k@: Those are tremendous images, Karine, and some of them do that shape-taking thing that I like, where it looks like a Mother Nature Etch A Sketch gone wild. I'm a rookie when it comes to photography in general, and in particular lightning and such, which makes it like fishing and landing a great one for the proverbial frying pan. There are various ways to catch a bolt; landscape settings are good for a long exposure and tripod, and in the city I prefer maybe five to ten seconds exposure so as to control the light getting in, but just enough to have a chance at a strike. It varies. You can also fire bursts and perhaps success will strike. The learning curve remains steep and rewarding! You do the human stuff so very well. Thanks for the Jean-Luc link !
@B. Thomas: Thank you, and I am off to work now ! Quick, like a lightning bolt.
@Phil Morris: Thanks very much Phil. Today's Spotlight is a wicked good lightning shot.
@Florence: It looks almost playful, except for the lethal potential of it... yes, luck me to see so many hits in one night. More possibly on the way this weekend ! Speaking of which, have a nice one, dear.
@Slackwater - Don: I really marvel at how such power can hit a building repeatedly, and is safely channelled away to keep everyone inside safe. It must have been one hell of a learning process, huh? Thanks, Don. Love your cloud picture for today.
@RBL: Thanks a lot !
@Ralph Jones: Ha ha... I like your chances to get a great shot eventually, Ralph, seeing as you live in a much more active weather area than Toronto has. Windsor-Detroit really gets the steamy conditions and cold fronts coming in that lead to these volatile storms, or at least that is how they show it on the TV weather reports ;-) I've been playing with various settings and have had luck with 5 to 10 second exposures, ISO of about 100 (though I experiment), and f 8.0 ... nighttime rural shots are great for 30 second exposures that really give you a chance to capture the bolts. Check out today's Aminus Spotlight : that guy knows exactly what he's doing !
@Steven: No two strikes the same, it seems. I love that variety. Thanks, Steven !
@Irene: Yes, I thought it would be good for scale to see a wider view. I have a few other frames that are more dramatic than this, maybe, but not as quirky with that weird loop.
@Akbar&Armaghan: Thanks very much !
@Baldwin VW: Ha... yeah, I wish ! Thanks a lot. One more tomorrow and then I'll give it a rest, unless tonight's potential storm brings me something I just cannot resist.
@Judy aka L@dybug: That's a good ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... ha ha... my EXIF data doesn't show up here and links don't work for me. I have a wonky account :) - these shots are approximately 5 to 8 second exposures, ISO 100, f 8.0, and tripod mounted.
@klausZ: I saw so many strikes of this tower in one night, after years of waiting... it was a crazy display for hours. Thanks a lot !