Lamar Lightning

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 17, 2012268 views10 comments

Hi everyone. I normally peek in here from afar (way over in the Wildlife gallery) to admire the incredible work that's posted in this gallery regularly.

I'm not a landscape photographer. However, lightning's always been near the top of my "must photograph" list, and I finally had an opportunity to try for it during my recent Yellowstone trip. I'm happy to have this as my very first lightning shot, and thankful that no blending or other crazy skills were necessary to make this presentable.

Okay, back to critters.

Canon 7D
Canon 24-70mm
ISO 100
30"
f/11

Max

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 17, 2012 at 10:49 PM

Very cool, Max! And on your first try no doubt. This definately has some drama going for it.

CHris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 17, 2012 at 11:39 PM

Spectacular lightening. I think compositionally I would crop the bottom up closer to the colored trees in the foreground and crop some of the cloud from the top. It would focus even more on the lightening. I would love to have a lightening shot like this.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 18, 2012 at 2:17 AM

Way to go, Max! Looking at this makes my hair stand up and my skin prickle-- just like when you're there, which I'd rather not be! Even for a gorgeous shot like this, lightening is on my "too scary" list from a few past experiences of prickling and hair raising. Congratulations on a fine image.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Wick Smith on October 18, 2012 at 8:21 AM

Great capture! It was a nice scene without the lightning & it's a big plus with it.

Registered on June 12, 2009, 91 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 18, 2012 at 8:46 AM

Hi Max, This looks great! That is some really cool looking lightning and you did a nice job capturing it. Nice just as it is for me.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on October 18, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Dramatic capture Max, love the compostion with the small stand of autumnal trees in the fg, and the dramatic lightning in the back!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 20, 2012 at 12:01 PM

Wicved shot, Max! One minor suggestion: id dodge the tree just a bit, and increase the midtone contrast, especially in the sky, you want the bolt and tree to stand out as much as possible from the bg. It's a bit tricky, cause you dont want to lose all detail in the fg, so maybe work on the sky and fg separately. Very cool!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Drew M Wright on October 20, 2012 at 11:10 PM

As Stan mentioned, definitely a wicked shot. Nice work!

Registered on June 18, 2008, 23 Posts, 106 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 21, 2012 at 7:01 PM

Stan, that's a good suggestion. I would like to make the yellows pop a bit more without washing out the foreground, so I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on September 1, 2013 at 9:04 AM

Cool shot Max. The stand of cottonwoods look like the ones in your recent pick of the week with the bison. Might I be correct?

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments