We were supposed to get rain both Friday and Saturday this week but the rain did not show up until about 9 p.m. on Saturday night and it showed up with a vengeance. It was a pure lightning storm with bolts so big they lit up the entire sky, the thunder was so loud at points that you could feel it vibrate your insides, and of course I thought it was beautiful.
It took me A LOT of shots to get these two and my best friend Beth got some great ones as well so I hope you enjoy them because we worked hard 🙂 The second shot was this huge-mongus bolt that was so bright and so big it scared me a little when it hit but fortunately I was able to capture it.
Lighting Strike
Lighting Strike
Photography by Mindy 
Mindy! How in the world did you ever get these shots? Is there always that one big bolt down the middle? I honestly don’t know, I must instinctively look away when it’s thundering and lightening out. But you can see how it would touch down and strike. Amazing pictures, thanks for all the work trying to capture it for us.
It was a wild and crazy storm here and Beth and I stood out under this walkway shooting for about 15 minutes just trying to catch anything lol She got some really gorgeous ones too, it just takes patience 🙂
Mindy, these are incredible!! Lightning is probably the one thing you will NEVER see a photo of from me. As scared as I am of storms, I probably would have been in my downstairs bathroom during the one you described. LOL! But these are great…thanks for sharing!
Thank you 🙂 I am not afraid of storms, I am pretty sure I get that from my mama. I should be but she never made a big deal about them growing up so I stupidly think I am safe in them lol
WOW,WOW,& WOW……I LOVE the second one it almost looks like a tornado.It kinda makes me wonder what the hell we were doing outside taking pictures LOL! But well worth it. I don’t have time right now (because I am suppose to be at work at 11:00)but I will send you mind so you can see them. I am impressed I finally got it.
Wow I just can’t get over how AWESOME that second shot is, of course the first on is great too, but the second one is AMAZING!!!
Thanks Bessie 😛 Yours are WOW WOW WOW too!! We kinda rock
We’re kinda a big deal 🙂
Love ya!
These are awesome! We rarely get lightening out here, so this is the closest I get to it.
Nice job Mindy.
Thank you, isn’t it odd how you don’t see certain weather phenomena in different areas of the country?!
I am just going to continue the gushing of everyone else. I know how hard and how many pictures it must have took you to get these shots, but that’s just a testament to your talent and patience. They are both so damned incredible! And that lightning really was some thick lightning last night wasn’t it? That second shot almost looks like it’s not real, like you made the perfect shot in some 3D program, that’s how good it is.
These are so flipping amazing. And Beth is right, that second one looks like a lightning tornado. Soo so cool.
Thank you 🙂 It DOES look like a tornado doesn’t it lol. I did some contrasting in PS on these for sure but that is the real lightning bolt 🙂
Wow.. I love the trees in the first one.. it really gives you a sense of scale on just how massive the lightning is.. (and how puny and insignificant we all are). “Lightning Tornado”… very cool description. Be sure to give us plenty of warning before the premiere exhibition of your work.
Thank you dear, the trees are my favorite part of the photo too! Premier exhibition, you are too cute!
That is AMAZING! Most people don’t realize how hard it is to get those shot. You did a great job my friend.
Thank you sweetie!
I am in awe of your shots. These are both scary and amazing!
Thanks doll! The sad part is, I didn’t even think of the scary because I was under cover. LOL
Hi Mindy…these are amazing shots of lightning!! WOW!! All your photos are fantastic! Thanks for stopping by my blog Capture! and leaving a nice note. If it’s OK with you, I’d like to ad your blog to my blogroll. Cathy
Oh Catherine that would be so awesome, thank you so much for the nice compliments and the add!
Those look so REAL!!!!!!!! Sweet and wow! Great pics!
Those pics are seriously incredible!
Thank you… and they are REAL 😉
*bows down to Mindy*
Amazing!!
LOL, thank you Ally! I have NO doubt you could have done the same
That is amazing! I’m fascinated by your photos, did a great job, girl! No words, very inspiring. Congratulations!
Thank you my friend, that is a wonderful compliment coming from you!
Wow Awesome capture.
Thank you Ingrid!
How in the…?!?!
I really don’t know what to say that hasn’t been said above. These are fantastical. I can’t imagine how long or how many clicks it would take to get these but I bet it was alot. Kudos for your tenacity and amazing abilities to get these. I aspire. 🙂
As always you are too kind and I love you for it!
Holy cow!! These are amazing! Sadly since I have been in California I have seen lightening maybe once. You did a great job capturing these!
Thank you so much!
Totally incredible, Mindy. Great lightning shots are not that easy to capture, as my brother (the storm chaser) will testify. He would be envious of both these shots. I’d frame the 2nd one for sure!
Ok, I want to go storm chasing with your brother, I have ALWAYS wanted to do that!!!
And thank you so much for the nice comments 🙂
Flippin’ Awesome!
Today on the news they had some shots that someone from New albany sent in of the lightening show…Ha! Those had nothing on yours! You really should send these shots in!
I saw you taking the pics, I was so happy to see you doing it.
We sat on the porch, well I was really standing and holding on to the porch post.
The thunder was so lound and close at times it rumbled your insides. There were several times it jolted me! It was a beautiful show…better than the 4th and that was great!!
Thanks once again for capturing memories on your Cannon!!
O.
M.
G.
What fantastic shots. What settings did you use to capture them? I think the first one is going to go on my desktop for a while 🙂
I am pretty sure I had the shutter speed at 2 seconds, maybe more or less on different shots. I had the ISO on 100 and the aperture at f16
Yes! Like Laura I am curious about settings! 😀 Now I’m hoping for a rainstorm while we’re on vacay heh.
The key was a slower shutter speed I think and the aperture you just have to mess around with until you get the right setting.