Photos ~ Late June Lightning

Oppressive heat like yesterday is something PNWer's just aren't accustomed to. Neither is the unstable atmospheric conditions it can create when you mix hot and humid with an incoming front. From that we were treated to a distant show of some spectacular lightning.

The meteorological threat existed all day but seldom does this sort of excitement come form our skies. Nevertheless, after a couple sightings by friend AP and myself I headed down the street to a neighborhood lookout most popular for viewing 4th of July fireworks. For this show the spot was also perfect. A few other neighbors stopped by to take in the quiet occasion. I set up my tripod and started pulling in shots of about 7 seconds each. I didn't re-frame much but paid basic attention to where the active storm cells might be moving. Twenty minutes after I arrived the sky seemed to give up and so I did as well -- though not at all empty handed.

This was my first ever lighting shoot and I'm pretty pumped with the results. Maybe storm chasing is still somewhere in my future... ;)

Comments (10) | To Top

6/30/2008 @ 8:38am

Kevin, those are amazing shots! All I can say is, "Wow, wow, wow, wow!"

~Angie

by AngelaJossy

6/30/2008 @ 9:20am

Wow is right- very cool!

I love lightning but not enough to move to the midwest or someplace else that has crazy lightning.

Thanks for posting!

by morgan

6/30/2008 @ 9:56am

Kevin, those are some great pictures. I'm going to have to use that last for wallpaper. Thanks for posting.

by Derek

6/30/2008 @ 10:50am

Nice work Kevin.

You are a pro.

by Erik B.

6/30/2008 @ 1:53pm

"If lightning is the anger of the Gods, the Gods are concerned mostly with trees." Lao Tse

by Marty

6/30/2008 @ 3:08pm

And I still remember having to get you to come inside during thunderstorms because you just wanted to be watching them from outdoors. Perhaps some things will always be . . .

by Kathy Freitas

6/30/2008 @ 7:26pm

Nice shots Kev! I was on my way home and wishing I had some time and a tripod to attempt to catch some of the shots. Way to go!

by Gavin

6/30/2008 @ 11:13pm

Excerpt from John Adams [HBO, 2008]

Interior. Afternoon or Early Evening.

Crowd: "Hear, hear." [SFX of canes tapping on floor in approval]

by Brooks

7/1/2008 @ 1:20am

Ah the pictures are fantastic! I tried myself to capture the lightning but sadly failed so I was really excited to see your pics. Is the Tacoma Photo Gang still venturing out? If so, how can I join in?

by Lisa

7/1/2008 @ 8:46am

@Lisa: We try to go out at least once a month. Keep your eyes on the Tacoma Flickr group (http://flickr.com/groups/tacoma/) for any announcements. I've missed the last few and am missing it. May have to come up with a mini-outing in the meantime, if you or anyone is interested.

by KevinFreitas