Lightning and Windmill

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted August 1, 20151,303 views18 comments

I took this a week ago as storms rolled across central Kansas. I had envisioned using this windmill as a foreground object, but hadn't had the opportunity and the right storm track to do it. This was taken at 1 am. Most of the lightning was distant, so I had my ISO cranked up. I had just moved down the fence line several yards, and reset up the camera. Within seconds of triggering the exposure, this mighty bolt lit up the night. It isn't as close as it appears, and didn't strike the windmill. I don't remember hearing thunder either, so it was either farther away than I think or I just was tired and excited. I know the cloud where the bolt originated is way blown out. I don't normally use ISO 800, but as I mentioned, the rest of the lightning was more distant and no where near as bright. 7d2, ISO 800, f/8, 20 sec, cropped. C&C always welcome and appreciated.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on August 1, 2015 at 11:14 PM

Wow , can really feel the power of mother nature !

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on August 2, 2015 at 12:11 AM

Great skill shown in both of these images. Well done. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on August 2, 2015 at 1:42 AM

Powerful.... looks like the windmill got 'lit-up'. But, I read that it was behind the structure ...way off. To my eyes, that windmill looks just like a big tripod.... nice shot!

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on August 2, 2015 at 8:44 AM

Wow! Very dramatic and beautiful (but terrifying) image!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 2, 2015 at 8:50 AM

Excellent! Certainly looking like it is striking the windmill. Very cool image!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 2, 2015 at 5:27 PM

Perfect timing Rob and stunning capture regardless of the blown out sky........ white hot electricity.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on August 2, 2015 at 10:50 PM

Thanks everybody. I too like the illusion created by the lightning bolt and windmill. Definitely one of my favorite photos taken at this location, and one of my best lightning captures.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 3, 2015 at 11:18 AM

While I'm confident that the windmill wasn't struck here, it sure looks like flames or pieces should be shooting out of the windmill at any moment. That's a fierce looking lightning bolt, Rob. Having the cloud at the top of the bolt blown looks perfectly natural to me.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on August 3, 2015 at 11:24 AM

I love images that juxtapose a natural element with a manmade artifact designed to recreate it. Whether the lightning touched the windmill or not, the image intertwines them in ways that are both symbolic and aesthetically pleasing. Nice job here.

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by Basil Greber on August 3, 2015 at 11:52 AM

The lighting appears to wind around the windmill like a snake around its prey. Great catch!

Registered on November 8, 2005, 219 Posts, 1340 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on August 3, 2015 at 4:10 PM

A very dramatic image - you're positioning was spot on. It must be difficult to control the exposure in this type of image but you have made an excellent job of that. Love the colours and composition - you deserve this at 1am ! Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on August 3, 2015 at 8:38 PM

Super dramatic shot, regardless of whether the lightning was distant or right on top of the windmill. Really a great moment you captured, and the blown out cloud doesn't bother me at all.

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on August 8, 2015 at 6:36 AM

awesome!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on August 8, 2015 at 8:26 PM

What an amazing scene, Rob. I missed this last week by not visiting the M&N gallery......Congrats on the EP for this very fine stormy weather action image....... devil

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on August 9, 2015 at 2:49 PM

Congraulations on the Weekly Pick, Rob!

This truly excellent! Nature at her most awesome!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on August 11, 2015 at 7:58 AM

Thanks everybody for the comments, and for the EP. It was well worth the loss of sleep :).

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Willem Louw on August 15, 2015 at 1:35 PM

Great timing and I assume it required a lot of perserverance. A fantastic display of the power locked up in nature, cast against this lonely windpump.