06/19/08 Chase

I was really not planning on chasing today. I had stuff I needed to get done badly and was trying to ignore the storm potential in the area today. When it became apparent that supercells were going to play in the area and I was going to have to get out and chase for the TV station, I actually was a bit upset about having to get out believe it or not.

Now, in hindsight, I could not be happier that I did get out. While I didn’t experience much in the way of severe weather, I got yet another fantastic opportunity to work on my lightning shooting skills. As those that read regularly know, this was something new I was trying to learn this year since I finally got a digital camera capable of doing what I wanted to do.

I have always wanted to take lightning pics like those fantastic photographs some of my storm chaser friends have taken. I was originally inspired on lightning photography by some of the fantastic shots Warren Faidley has. But over the years, many a great storm photographer has come to light with some incredible lightning images.

One in particular is one of my more recent inspirations, lightning lady Susan Strom. She has some unbelievable photographs thanks to the unparalleled opportunities presented during the Arizona monsoon season.

Inspiration and some mentoring closer to home would be my best friend Graham Butler. He’s an outstanding photographer outside of lightning even, and could easily have a career in it, even though he doesn’t believe me when I tell him that. He got me started on the right foot when I got my Canon Rebel XTI and I took it from there.

Tonight presented me with one of the most outstanding and longest lasting presentation of nature’s fireworks I have seen in a very long time. Initially I sat just NE of the Lubbock International Airport and shot 67 images of CGs crashing down into the City of Lubbock. All but two of them had at least one CG in the shot. Of course, some were better than others. The lightning show lasted the nearly hour drive home and then almost another hour after that. The only thing that stopped me from shooting more was the rain.

I finally got to the point tonight I am satisfied that I am ready to move on from the kit lens that came with the camera to something much better. I am still not on the level of those I admire, but I am making significant progress I think.

I don’t know, what do you guys think? These are just 5 of my favorites from tonight. I also have a couple from the other night I need to get up too when I get the chance. Click on the image to get the full size one. My blog scrunches them down for some reason.