Leaning
(click to view on black // canon 5d mark ii, tamron 17-35mm 2.8, 17mm, f/22, iso 400, 5 sec // buy print)
The thing about wide angle lenses is that they give you the perception that things are far away. Like these lightning strikes. They probably were a decent distance aways, but I was hanging in there and hanging in there hoping to get a photo with strikes as big as possible. I was ducking down, hunched over as the storm crawled towards me and the lightning going nuts all over.
This was not just a normal thunderstorm…this was a severe warned cell down in Tucson and therefore intense. The clouds that I had just shot off to the left were some of the spookiest I’ve ever seen in Arizona and I’ll post those sometime soon.
The Saguaro on the left…that isn’t the fault of the lens, it was just a leaning cactus.
Probably one of my favorite images from the season. A mean, beautiful looking storm with unusual colors, gorgeous textures, lightning strikes and a well-lit desert foreground to display the awesomeness of Arizona.
This is slick dude – all sorts of crazy elements throughout the frame, but your eye is completely drawn into the lightning cell. Love it.
Stop it already, you’re making us all look bad 🙂
Rock on dude!
Another great image Mike. The clouds and cactus with the lightning – a powerful combination.
Now this is something a little different that is still just so awesome Mike. I love the inclusion of the cacti in the foreground!
Nice comp Mike. Dig the clouds!
Well man, this is officially my fav shot of yours. Epic!
Great shot. Lightning is tricky, but well captured.
Another great capture Mike!
Yep, definitely one of your best images I’ve seen so far!
i need some time in the desert to compose and shoot some of these cool images. another winnuh!!!
Couldnt place that strike any better. Love the balance of elements in this frame.
Beautiful and powerful.