Scariest storm of my life! But, I couldn't resist trying to take some shots. I've been struggling with a good idea for the Opposites challenge, and then it occured to me... Electricity.
If you like this one, here's another:
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Place: 1 out of 286 Avg (all users): 7.2387 Avg (commenters): 8.0000 Avg (participants): 7.2945 Avg (non-participants): 7.1946 Views since voting: 15366 Votes: 331 Comments: 75 Favorites: 46 (view)
This is a great shot, and gorgeous. And I agree with earlier comments - don't be too modest about this! It is a lot knowing where to point your camera and when, and being willing to take the time and focus to do so. It sure sounds like this storm made the photography a lot easier than a milder storm would, but that doesn't make this photo any less impressive or any less to your credit, IMO. Right place, right time - still only matters if you have what's needed to take advantage of it!
Congrats, I loved this pic and rated it as my highest. I love how the wooden pole at the bottom looks like a cross and the lightning forks around it.... and, no I am not particularly religious, I just like the visualization.
Don't be so modest about your accomplishment with this picture. I always say that two thirds of
good photography is knowing where to point the camera. You took advantage of a situation that presented itself instead of hiding indoors.
That's good photography.
Wow...score one for the newbies!!!! What a great shot. You are SO lucky you weren't electrocuted that night...guess nobody told you that DPC could be a health hazard, did they? :o) LOL
It doesn't actually seem to have been commented on, in a quick glance through, but it's the streetlight that makes this shot for me. The high-voltage lines (which would have been the title had it been my shot) are generally, and certainly in photographic terms, percieved as a bad thing - but here you also illustrate the use we make of that power. It has a message about the use we make of out technology - and not a straightforward message either, suiting a not-straightforward debate. Part of the crowning glory of our civilization, or is the world going to take its revenge? Very pleased to see such a challenging shot win this challenge. Don't suppose the visually spectacular nature of it hurt, either :-)
Wow! Thanks to everyone for the supportive and constructive comments! I'm really excited about the win, especially considering my Rusted score.
I'll admit to feeling a little guilty about the shot after getting all the "good for you, I know how difficult lightning shots are to capture" comments. Here's why:
You see, this was one horrific storm. I drove through it for roughly 40 miles and there were hundreds if not thousands of strikes during my drive. Lightning was hitting in front of me, to either side, behind me and above me, I honestly thought I might die that night.
Anyway, after what seemed like hours I managed to get out from under the storm. I pulled over in a rest stop and set up. At first I did it hand held, figuring it would be a cool effect. Those didn't look to great, so I set up the tripod.
Here's the guilt part: Of the 46 lightning shots I took that night (including the ones taken while driving) 22 came out with lightning. Of the 20 I took at that parking lot, 15 came out.
So, was I lucky? To come out alive, for sure! To get the shot that won? Definitely. But, I was luckiest to get to experience that storm and have the luxury of pointing my camera where ever I pleased and to know I would capture lightning in a bottle.
What an amazing capture. The colors are just wonderful as is your exposure and the framing with the lines in front. I'm not sure the streetlight in the lower right needs to be included, but that's being very picky on my part. Good luck.
In any other shot, that electrical pole and wires would have ruined the shot. In the sense of opposites, it makes the shot. Great capture. Probably on the the week's best.
I was hoping for a shot like this for the Power challenge. Unfortunately, we don't get much lightning here. This is gorgeous.. I love the colors of the sky. Nice opposites, too!
A good shot. You must have been really lucky to get that. Just one little comment: I feel that this picture would be more attractive had you positioned yourself in such a way that your camera pointed along the wires, so that they don't cross the field of vision. (I know that it's impossible to know where the lightning will strike and prepare for it accordingly, so the previous sentence is not meant to be a criticism)
It's a 9 from me
Wow, this shot makes quite an impression after 200 staged shots. I think you could have cropped down and right to increase the impact of your central elements, after all this is about power not clouds, but that is nit picking, this one is in ribbon territory.
It's perfect! Too perfect. It must have takin a long time for the lighting to be right. Or you just edited two shots together. Ether way i'm not sure that you waited and waited for this one in a thousand shot.
Longshot on meeting the challenge, but this is a awsome shot! We hardly ever have thunder and lightning here in Iceland, so I'll probably never get so luck to capture a super shot like this. Good job, really good. 8
I really like this idea. It's different from a lot of the other entries. The light on the bottom right of the image is distracting (unfortunately) still worth 8
Unbridled versus Restrained
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