A storm brewed up north of us this evening, and put on quite a light show! I put the camera up on the tripod and took some photos. I couldn't decide on a favorite photo, so I'm sharing a BUNCH of photos! I am posting them in the order they were taken. And, I encourage you to click on the photos to get a larger, clearer view. Pretty cool!
You can see our neighbor's house in the distance. I did move the camera a few times because sometimes there were just more bolts in different parts of the sky, but I kept the neighbor's house in every photo.
What was strange was for the longest time we couldn't even hear the thunder. In fact, it wasn't until the last few frames that it became a distant rumble we could actually hear.
Once the storm got closer to us (it was moving very fast!) the thunder proved to be quite loud. Mister Farley had to get all nervous and scared, but eventually decided that his "safe place" under the coffee table was OK.
To take these photos, I put the camera on the bulb setting and manually held the shutter open for between 15-25 seconds. I had planned to use my wireless shutter release, but the batteries were kaput. So, all of these photos were taken with my finger holding the shutter open. I'm sure they're a bit "wiggly" if I inspect them at great detail, but they're not too bad considering!
In this photo, you can actually see how fast the clouds were moving ... the lightening made the storm clouds look double exposed in the upper right corner (right in front of that nice glow).
We even got a bit of rain once the storm made it over to us. Not quite a quarter inch. Better than nothing -- we'll take every last drop!
Enjoy the rest of the photos...
You can really see the rain coming down in this photo.
Something was getting hit! Zoweeee!!
This one might actually be my favorite. I love the curved arches of light in the center.
Hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did!
Wow! What great pics! SO glad to read that you got some rain today. I bet you are both smiling a lot not to mention the animals :) Take care, Liz
Posted by: Liz | October 10, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Wow! Truly amazing photo's. I love watching lightening storms.
Posted by: Ida | October 06, 2011 at 12:58 PM
These are absolutely amazing...stunning!!! It reminds me of those balls you see in museums where you touch the ball and the electrical currents rise up to meet your hand. How did you ever get the timing so perfect? Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Chris Hauck | October 05, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Anna - these are STUNNING!!!!!
Posted by: MicheleP | October 04, 2011 at 10:09 PM
WOW, THOSE ARE BEYOND AMAZING. YOU SHOULD SUBMIT SOME OF THEM TO A PHOTO CONTEST! FANTASTIC. WOW. THANKS FOR LETTING US SEE THEM, TOO.
Posted by: diane mcvey | October 04, 2011 at 09:31 PM
Awesome in the truest sense of the word!
Posted by: Leslie Miller | October 03, 2011 at 08:51 PM
WoW!! These are amazing!! What a light show!!
Posted by: Lacey | October 03, 2011 at 07:32 PM
Very cool!!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Chris C | October 03, 2011 at 08:25 AM
wow...your lightening pics are great...thank you for sharing and thanks for sharing a how to!!!
Posted by: nkmac | October 03, 2011 at 06:51 AM
Epic awesomeness again! Your favorite is also mine, but for a different reason. I like the way the cloud, though ominous and dark, looks so soft and billowy. Got to love it's layers too! :)
Posted by: Sherri D. | October 02, 2011 at 08:30 PM
You've brought us home to Texas for the second week in a row, Anna with a ride through Texas farmland and now, an amazing light show. No heart stopping stop sign moments here, but lots of AWE!!! Me and DH oooohed and awwwwed over your amazing shots.
Posted by: Michele Ghent | October 02, 2011 at 01:28 PM
Awesome pictures as usual!
Posted by: Jennifer | October 02, 2011 at 09:25 AM
Robert & I couldn't stop staring at your photos last night. They are so beautiful!
It totally reminds me of t-storms in Montana. Sigh... :)
Posted by: Karrie Baker | October 02, 2011 at 07:08 AM
Amazing! You took some great photos! :)
Posted by: Kathy Martin | October 01, 2011 at 02:04 PM
Anna, I like to sit outside and watch a good midwest thunder storm when I can. I like the whole storm with the distinct smell of the ozone from the lightening, the lightening show, the rain the cleans the air, and usually the cooler temperatures. I always wondered how pictures of the lightening strikes were taken. It makes sense to just open the shutter in the dark and wait for the lightening to strike. You really got some awesome pictures from the storm. I wish that you had gotten more rain. You folks in Texas have had a really tough time this year. I'd heard that the cattle feeders were selling off their cattle because the cost of far away hay for feed was just costing too much so I expect before too long meat prices will soar along with everything else.
I hope the next storm brings more rain than a quarter inch. Have the best day that you can.
Posted by: Nebraska Dave | October 01, 2011 at 06:29 AM
gnarly! The bulb trick is a good one. One of the best things I have on the old Minolta that you rubbed the finish off of in college. It looks like the folks across the road had a hot time on the patio that evening. I hope the volunteer fire boys had the tanks full. we've been having to turn on the heaters in the house. Bummer, summer's over.......Love, Dad
Posted by: DK Wight | October 01, 2011 at 12:55 AM
WOW!!!! Those are fantastic, I am just amazed at how awesome they are!!!! Can't believe I sleep through that, really glad you took pics.lol
I definitely see postcards after the weather we have had here it's hard to believe that's Milford, Texas.
Posted by: Carlene Hunt-Perryman | September 30, 2011 at 10:45 PM
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. i just said this summer that i'm adding 'get a photo of lightening' to my bucket list, b/c i feel like i'll never get it! You are truly amazing!!! not sure which is my favorite. they are all great!!!
Posted by: Yvonne | September 30, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Anna,
Your skills as a photographer astonish me - regularly! I love these lightening strike shots! WOW
Thanks for sharing!
Hugs!
Posted by: Sharli | September 30, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Wow Anna!! As someone who has tried to take pics of lightning, I am truly impressed!!! They are awesome!
I am looking at them on my little iPhone screen, can't wait to see them on my desktop!!!
Great work!!!
Diane
Posted by: Diane Cooper | September 30, 2011 at 07:26 PM
great photos! No 4433 looks like two people dancing.
Posted by: Paula D | September 30, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Wow! These are amazing! Lightning is fascinating, gorgeous, and so scary! I love it!
Posted by: Danielle | September 30, 2011 at 01:26 PM
"not too bad." *snicker* You are so modest! :) Thanks for the tip about the shutter, but what on earth is a bulb setting?????? I am looking forward to the day when cameras are voice-activated. I'll say, "Now, take a nice photo of the lightning!"
Wish it had given you more rain. *sigh*
Posted by: Shala Carter | September 30, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Yes, I DID enjoy the show - very much! That's one thing we don't often get around here, and I miss it. Your photos are phenomenal!
Posted by: michelle | September 30, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Yes, I DID enjoy the show - very much! That's one thing we don't often get around here, and I miss it. Your photos are phenomenal!
Posted by: michelle | September 30, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Impressive. You did a great job of capturing a little bit of God's handiwork.
Posted by: lacyquilter | September 30, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Great photos Anna! Love it!!
Selina
Posted by: Selina Morrison | September 30, 2011 at 09:53 AM
Anna, these are amazing photos. I have never been able to capture a lightening storm but you did it. Absolutely awesome pics. Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Barb Waldsmith | September 30, 2011 at 09:45 AM
Electrifying!!!
Posted by: Adair | September 30, 2011 at 09:15 AM
What fabulous photos Anna! I love a good lightening show, however we just don't get those around here. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Tosh | September 30, 2011 at 09:05 AM
Central Plains have great lightning shows, but Central Florida is no slouch, either. Awesome pics, Anna.
Posted by: kathynruss | September 30, 2011 at 08:05 AM
OMG these are wonderful photos. I put your favorite one on my desktop. Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Karel Hamilton | September 30, 2011 at 06:59 AM
WOW !!!!
Posted by: Carol Dee | September 30, 2011 at 04:38 AM
Amazing! Gotta love Mother Nature! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: barbara hudak | September 30, 2011 at 04:20 AM
Glad I'm seeing it from the comfort of my home! Not a fan of lightning. Your photos are beautiful, though.
Posted by: SueB | September 30, 2011 at 03:34 AM
Anna - these are marvelous storm photos! Thanks so much for generously sharing your tip about holding down the shutter button for 15 - 20 seconds. I love the colors you so expertly captured. I hope Mister Farley is doing better now.
Posted by: Gabriela Divine | September 30, 2011 at 03:10 AM
OMG, did your hair stand on end????
Posted by: Lisa Kaye | September 30, 2011 at 02:01 AM