Theme - Light - Lightning Glow

This seems to be a late night shooting week for me, with the Discovery launch last week. We went to bed about Midnight and there was a fantastic light show going on to the south and east. Hope those of you more southern members faired well. I had to get back up to get the camera and just try. I've never shot lightning before and handheld the camera for the 1-20 second exposures based on the AV setting. A few were black, due to missing the timing, but a few turned out nicely. Most of the ones I was able to get were sheet lightning. Right after I turned off the camera and got back into bed, some spectacular bolt lightning appeared. But ... next time! :( ;)

I tried a number of effects with this one and kept coming back to my old standby of Poster Edge. Couldn't get any other effects to work, as they always went too dark and brightening the image took away from the effect.

This image was shot toward the other homes, across the lake, one of which was still lit up. Liked the effect of the lightning and the lit house. The glow of the city lights also added to the image.

Enjoy!

Mark, I think this is an interesting look! I like the lighting inside the home also. Not sure but it may need a CCW rotation. It could just be the perspective. It might be fun to see a few more lights in some of the other homes. Here is a link to David Thomasson's tutorial, hope you find it as informative as I did.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...hread=18550924

Mark, Interesting capture. Agree with Denise regarding the rotation. Since the lightening is not seen without the caption one might not know what is really happening...

Interesting composition, Mark. I think I can visualize with your description. I would be interested in seeing the original before posterization.

Thanks for your viewing and comments.

Just to advise, the image is horizontal, I did check the roof lines before modifying. The perspective of the lake bank makes it look otherwise.

Denise, next time we have a Midnight lightning storm, I will call up the neighbors so they turn on their house lights! ;) :D Can you give me your home phone number, so I can type it into their caller IDs, when I wake them up!!! :eek: ;)

FYI as well ... The original is posted on the Friends and Family board today, for your viewing pleasure. Thought I'd give them something interesting and also a promo for our theme week! ;)

Hey Mark,
I looked at your original post in friends and family and it isn't sharp either. I take many night landscapes in total darkness w/o even the moon present so I have to know where my equipment focuses on infinity B4 I take the image. I recommend that you go out during the daylight hours and check to see where your lens prefocuses at different lengths....so that when such circumstances arise....you are prepared. If you need examples of what I'm I'm talking about.....you can check on some of my earlier posts in landscapes or check the NANPA Expressions showcase page 33 or 93.....totally focused at night. I have marked my lenses so that it is easily found at night wearing my headlamp. Hope this helps.

Great points in the critique above, Mark, and ROman advise seems like a sound one.

Thanks for viewing and comments Roman and Fabs. Appreciate it.

Unfortunately I cannot mark the lens, as it has an internal (covered) focus dial. However, I appreciate your comments. As noted, night visions are not my norm, but I will shoot anything if the mood strikes to see what happens. Try for the best, but not always hit it. Sometimes it is better than expected though. Therefore I do not give up the quest.

Thanks again.