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Lucky Strike #2

Photography Sea/Undersea posted on Oct 01, 2004
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Description


Recently, at my Father's wedding, I managed to catch another lightning strike. I think it's a pretty good example of the explanation that lightning strikes upward as opposed to downward. 15 second exposure, F-stop 8.0, 200ASA equivalent. Handheld, balanced on a railing. Fuji Finepix S7000 at 8MP. Thanks to my father for the use of his latest toy for this shot. Oh, for those skeptics out there that think I'm a bit loony when I say lightning strikes upwards, read the comment I posted with a more scientific explanation.

Comments (19)


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Beemer

4:02PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

....................................... Absolutely Incredible! ..........................

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chrisuribe

4:08PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

Well not to contradict your words but have you noticed that 99% of lightning happen within and between the clowds? do they get up there from the ground? absolutely amazing pictures!!

medraught

4:12PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

Lightning happens when a cloud builds up a separation of charge. The bottom of the cloud (facing the earth) has a negative charge (extra electrons) while the top of the cloud expels positive charges up and out into the upper atmosphere. So the cloud has all this extra electrical energy on the side facing the earth, and eventually it dumps the energy down towards the earth, which tends to have a positive charge (for complex reasons) compared to the cloud's underbelly. When the stroke begins, a series of little pulses of electricity come down from the cloud towards the earth at really high speeds (about 1/6 the speed of light!). These pulses are called steps, and the trail they pulse down along is called the step leader. (not ladder). The air gets ionized along the step leader and so this column of air becomes a good conductor of electricity. So when the step leader (which is so faint that it is practically invisible) hits the earth, a "conducting wire" of air is set up from the cloud to the earth. Now charge can flow, but the first charges to move are the ones at the bottom of the wire (near the earth). So, the stroke (which is now visible) starts at the bottom (the earth) and runs UPWARDS from the ground! This return stroke produces the bright light and a lot of heat, which causes the air to expand suddenly, which causes a thunderclap. This sequence often repeats, with the charge going up and down the leader.

EricsON

4:40PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

Awesome pic Tim. Its better than I thought after you told me that night. As for your explanation above, if I recall our lessons with Goldsplatt correctly, electrons are the ones that actually flow.

medraught

4:50PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

Oh well... That was the explanation I found via Google anyway... Some mad scientist website. Probably not 100% accurate, but close enough for my purposes.

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Lary

5:18PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

xcellent capture....great trio...my vote!

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addiek

5:23PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

Great photo with a terrific explanation. Lightning strikes - once, twice ,,, THRICE!

Ondine

5:26PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

Oh this is an amazing shot..handheld no less. Another masterpiece to behold!!

SeigMancer

6:29PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

This is an amazing shot, almost like a once in a life time opportunity to see! Excellent work.

woofee

6:29PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

Wonderful photo. I have tried many times to catch a strike but nothing yet :~)

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Apophis906

10:02PM | Fri, 01 October 2004

Wow,what a catch here, just an amazing job here.

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WandM

2:28AM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Unbelievable capture!

cynlee

3:38AM | Sat, 02 October 2004

wowowowowow! most xcellent! congrats & ty for the explanation :]

PapaGuru

6:17AM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Great capture, there at the right moment, very interesting too!

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jcv2

6:36AM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Handheld, 15 seconds! Wow, that is impressive! Excellent work, lucky strike indeed!

vlaaitje

10:55AM | Sat, 02 October 2004

just awesome.......wonderful catch

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Diago

11:57AM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Awesome picture. You and ericson continue to amaze me with your skills with the camera.

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Shadane

12:17AM | Tue, 05 October 2004

when you showed this to me at your place i was breathless then - and i still am - this is wonderful tim - you out did yourself

ARMorty

1:19AM | Sat, 09 October 2004

Nice pix Tim. But the credit must go to you completely. Any camera would have captured it, but I guess a better resolution does help. Keep up the good work. Come to Jo'buirg and you will soon get a chance to capture the many strikes against the looming metropolis of this big city.


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