(please click to view on black)
In the wee hours of July 3rd, 2015…I captured what I feel is the most amazing lightning strike of my career. I’m still kind of in a state of disbelief.
Last night around 10:30, I was about to put my head on my pillow and crash. But I took one last look at the radar before I did and the storms over the Superstitions were getting bigger and I knew I’d regret it if the lightning rolled into town. I was tired, I had to get up at 6:15am to drive to Pine for a shoot, but hey…it’s lightning. Gotta go.
I made it out there a bit after 11pm. The strikes were way back in the mountains and pretty weak for awhile. I started shooting west until the bolts began to look better over this iconic mountain range.
At 12:50am…the heavens opened up and four incredible bolts exploded from the sky and rained down like I’ve never seen before. This is a single, 10-second exposure. No stacking.
This location has always been a favorite of mine. I’ve taken countless photos of sunsets from here, but I’ve always wanted one of lightning from the middle of the road. It’s been something I’ve been after for quite awhile.
But to have a shot like this…is beyond anything I could have possibly dreamed up. The road wet from previous rain and thus reflecting the light beautifully. Even the car feels like it belongs in this scene. And those strikes…such utter and unbelievable power. To capture all of that against the backdrop of the Superstition Mountains…just wow.
When you put in as much work as I do chasing storms…the miles, the hours, the time away from family, the utter exhaustion (like right now, as I never went to bed and am sitting in Pine typing this)…capturing an image like this leaves you without words to describe it.
All I know is I prayed on the way over…please God, give me something awesome tonight. Something increidble.
And…well there you have it. Hope you enjoy.
