Local Lightning

A strong bolt of lightning strikes down in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains on the west side of Tucson, Arizona. This summer monsoon season... more

by Douglas Taylor

Title

Local Lightning

Artist

Douglas Taylor

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photography

Description

A strong bolt of lightning strikes down in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains on the west side of Tucson, Arizona. This summer monsoon season thunderstorm was captured on August 30th, 2023 using a normal lens and a long, 8-second exposure. I do not use a lightning trigger to make my lightning and storm photographs, preferring to be the one who makes these striking images.

I knew this one could mean trouble, for it appeared to strike in the direction of my my house. Then I barely got past a count of "one-one-thousand-and-one" before a booming thunderclap reverberated over the volcanic hills and echoed from the mountainsides. That placed the touchdown site uncomfortably close to home.

I was personally spared, but I'm going to miss that big old Blue Palo Verde tree up on the road. It sure was beautiful when it bloomed in early spring.

Close examination will show what I experienced listening to the thunder. This bolt actually originated a few miles away from where it finally struck. This made the thunder last much longer than a simple, vertical bolt as the sound was generated over a considerable distance, making it last that much longer to my ears. The bolt was between 3 and 6 miles in length. I had not considered that I was in any significant danger making this photograph, but seeing how far this bolt traveled from the main storm did give me something to consider....

Uploaded

September 7th, 2023