Arizona Lightning July 16, 2009

Joined
Jan 13, 2008
Messages
163
Location
Casa Grande, Arizona
Nice storm south of the Superstition Mountains with heavy rain in the background.
Canon EOS Rebel XT
F/6.3
ISO 100
Canon 70-300mm set on 80mm
10 seconds

Very large and long lasting dust storm yesterday evening. It was just too dirty to try any photos. SPC has southern Arizona with a 'Slight Risk' for today. Starting to get some build-ups to the south now, so maybe more photos tomorrow.
 

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Good photos. I got the same lens but yet to get such a concentration of strikes since I bought it.
 
Absolutely beautiful lightning photos Richard!

I also have this lens on stand-by, but have yet to put it to any use with lightning. You may have just given me enough inspiration to give it a go during our storm season this coming summer :D

Take care,
Shauno
 
That was an impressive line of storms that went through the Casa Grande area! It looks like you're getting more tonight.

I stuck around Tucson and took a few pics as the wave of storms crested the Rincon mountains and poured down Reddington Pass.

Looking east from Saguaro N.P.
ReddingtonPass1.jpg



A few minutes later.
ReddingtonPass2.jpg


(Both taken with the mighty DrebelXT and an Oly Zuiko 28mm. No, wait, I think it's the 50mm (?) Doh!)
 
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Greg,

You have a couple of beauties there.

Tucson to Nogales and on east has been doing quite well for storms so far this season. I keep thinking about driving down to your area as we still haven't had a good one here in Casa Grande yet except for the dust storms. Sure as I leave, the lightning will show up here.

TANK
 
Greg,

You have a couple of beauties there.

Tucson to Nogales and on east has been doing quite well for storms so far this season. I keep thinking about driving down to your area as we still haven't had a good one here in Casa Grande yet except for the dust storms. Sure as I leave, the lightning will show up here.

TANK

Yea, lightning is like that. It knows! ;)

There is a pretty good viewpoint at the Madera Canyon visitor's center. It offers sweeping views of the setting sun filtering behind the Sierrarita Mountains. http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/recreation/scenic_drives/mader_cyn.shtml

More ambitious is driving Mt. Hopkins Road up the mountain. Stupendous views! The road is used by the telescope folks and is kept in excellent condition. Exit Canona Rd, head S along the eastern frontage road; turn E on Elephant Head Rd, then right at Mt. Hopkins Rd. Follow it as long as you like. There's a gate near the top, so you can't get to the observatories, however this spot is atop a ridge that offers great visibility to the E and SE. The mountain ranges cascade away for miles. http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/recreation/scenic_drives/mt_hopkins.shtml

Another pretty place is the La Cienegas reserve, about 20 miles S of I-10 on hwy 83. The area is rolling grassland. The Santa Rita Range does tend to block the setting sun, so westerly viewing is poor. But the same sunset can create fantastic colors in any clouds/storms to the NE, E and S. http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/ncarea/lascienegas.html

Kitt Peak has a great road and stupendous views in most directions.

Other popular Tucson areas include:

Gates Pass. Exit Speedway, drive W. till you hit the mountains.

Bobad Doag overlook, a few miles up the Catalina Highway. Classic/cliche' view of storms over Tucson. There are more overlooks higher up, including one (forget the name) 3.5 miles past Windy Point that offers the only good view of the San Pedro Valley to the east. Hike a few 100 yards N from the parking lot to gain altitude and improve the view.

If you're up for a hike, Sabino Canyon holds great promise. With the right timing, fantastic storm/sunset/mountain shots should be possible. Bring an umbrella, or garbage bags at the least, to protect your gear int he event you get run over by the storms. Mountain Lion repellent is handy too! :)
 
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