Petrified + crop
I was in southern Arizona tryint to get some lightning shots the other day--but the freaky low pressure system that was moving into AZ from the east (!) was just too soupy and the storms weren't all that strong down south--so I headed north Tuesday and targeted Petrified National Park as a spot i thought might produce. Well--it did, a strong storm moved in from the Northeast late in the day, but when i made it to the entrance gate shortly before sunset--the ranger informed me that i had to be done photographing by 8 pm--that's when the gates close!
So, i drove up the park road a few miles to find a high point (note: high point not typically where you want to be in a storm
) and set up just before sunset to get some lighting grabs. This is a single one second exposure of the approaching storm. I tried to get a few more as the storm really started lighting up--but that's when the ranger pulled up and threw me out of the park
Back in CO now, pulling the thorns out of my legs (note to self: don't wear shorts in the desert..)
5Dmkii; 70-300; 1s at f/20
CYC Welcome!
EDIT: looking at the jpeg i see some of the cloud detail is lost here--anyhow that's why i kept the top portion here (so if you tell me to crop ill ignore you
)
EDIT, EDIT: just kidding.
Comments
45 commentsI get used to pulling thorns out of my legs, and I've gotten awful good at dodging things like jumping cholla. I vastly prefer that over pants during the summer.
I'd sure like to order up another of those backward moving low pressure systems - it brought some wonderful fall-like weather and much needed rain to Texas.
Colin--i didnt really need a trigger, there were flashes every couple of seconds so1 second was more than adequate. This was actually the last shot i took begore i packed up and headed to a better foreground (petrified wood) but that's when the ranger sent me packing for good. But i really should bite the bullet and get a trigger--would help in a lot of cases where a 1 second or greater exposure just wipes out the lightning--that happens all too frequently!
And man, you do a lot of driving don't you? You really get around Stan!
Your storm photography has been a treat to view this summer, Stan. I look forward to seeing more.
Couldn't let this drop off the first page without commenting on how awesome this is! DO NOT CROP - well, at least for me. The sky is such an important part of the story. In fact, I'd say the landscape is merely the accent to the drama. No nits, I love this.
Lon
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy