David Kepley
August 2026 - Lightning Strike
Original
About the Image(s)
Lightning strike
I just got back from a trip to southern AZ where I took a lightning workshop with a storm chaser. There was a lot to learn!! This shot was at night. I put my camera on an intervolumeter. It triggered the shutter for 10 seconds, paused for a second and then another 10 seconds. Lots of nothing most of the time, but I got some keepers.
Settings: Canon R7 with a 24-70 Tamron lens shot at 56mm. 10 sec, f 5.0, ISO 1250. I denoised and sharpened the image in Topaz, then used the usual sliders in LRC.
4 comments posted
David, this image has a ton of impact, you captured a dramatic storm scene with a terrific rain shaft that adds some real atmosphere - nice! The lightning is well placed within the frame and you did an excellent job in creating a balanced composition. Again, nice job.
The one area that I feel militates against the image is the lightning itself. I shoot lightning too and I used to think of lightning as a single bolt, but what I learned from the gentleman I go out with (who actually finds the storms and gets me to the right place at the right time) explained that lightning is actually a series of electrical return strokes that follow nearly but not exactly the same path over a fraction of a second.
You indicated you used a 10-second exposure, so your camera recorded every one of those nearly the same path, return strokes, causing the bolt to appear thicker and softer than what we might expect from a much shorter exposure. Greg also explained that during long exposures all the subtle cloud movements, rain and other atmospheric turbulence is also recorded that causes the apparent softness and the faint "ghost" traces alongside the main bolt.
This is most dramatic shot and would love to share experiences, locations and general storm chasing information with you - my email is bmazz68@icloud.com -
Posted: 08/04/2026 16:41:03
The one area that I feel militates against the image is the lightning itself. I shoot lightning too and I used to think of lightning as a single bolt, but what I learned from the gentleman I go out with (who actually finds the storms and gets me to the right place at the right time) explained that lightning is actually a series of electrical return strokes that follow nearly but not exactly the same path over a fraction of a second.
You indicated you used a 10-second exposure, so your camera recorded every one of those nearly the same path, return strokes, causing the bolt to appear thicker and softer than what we might expect from a much shorter exposure. Greg also explained that during long exposures all the subtle cloud movements, rain and other atmospheric turbulence is also recorded that causes the apparent softness and the faint "ghost" traces alongside the main bolt.
This is most dramatic shot and would love to share experiences, locations and general storm chasing information with you - my email is bmazz68@icloud.com -
Posted: 08/04/2026 16:41:03
Well, this shot is certainly worth the trip! Even a single bolt of lightning can make an image into a dramatic story so that makes this one even stronger. I especially like the "ghostly" flashes that linger in the clouds. This is one of the best lightning shots I've seen in quite a long time. Congrats on the capture.
Hope you brought home more than one shot.
Posted: 08/09/2026 18:35:53
Hope you brought home more than one shot.
Posted: 08/09/2026 18:35:53
Hi David,
As someone who has only captured lightening with an I-phone, I am impressed with your setup (and storm-chasing which I think would be lots of fun to do!)
Aesthetically, the image is beautiful. The complementary orange/yellow and purple/blue color palette, with the silhouetted mountains provide a nice backdrop for the dramatic lightening bolts. I like, too, how the "ghost" bolts behind the main bolts add depth to the image, and the cloud of rain (or is it light?) surrounding the bolts add emphasis to the bolts. Nice job! Posted: 08/11/2026 14:34:45
As someone who has only captured lightening with an I-phone, I am impressed with your setup (and storm-chasing which I think would be lots of fun to do!)
Aesthetically, the image is beautiful. The complementary orange/yellow and purple/blue color palette, with the silhouetted mountains provide a nice backdrop for the dramatic lightening bolts. I like, too, how the "ghost" bolts behind the main bolts add depth to the image, and the cloud of rain (or is it light?) surrounding the bolts add emphasis to the bolts. Nice job! Posted: 08/11/2026 14:34:45
What I love about this image is the simplicity. It's all about colors and shapes and contrast. The warm colors of the sunset set off the cool blue tones of the clouds. All the horizontal layers give a nice flow- and then they're interrupted by that lightning bolt. Simple, yet powerful especially given what that subject is.
Butch's comments about the long exposure are interesting/ educational. Some friends have been doing lightning using a trigger, and it does have a different effect with the shorter duration shutter. Posted: 08/16/2026 16:53:15
Butch's comments about the long exposure are interesting/ educational. Some friends have been doing lightning using a trigger, and it does have a different effect with the shorter duration shutter. Posted: 08/16/2026 16:53:15