Lightning close-ups in stills and HD video

[Dan Robinson]

I recently finished a big video edit compiling extreme close-ups of lightning strikes to a television antenna mast, shot simultaneously on HD video and high-res DSLR still images, with slow motion replays. Visible phenomena include channel drift and bead-out, upward leaders and arc-weld sparks and smoke from the tower tip.

The clips in this video were shot over the course of 3 years. You can view this in full HD on Youtube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbFWMxeIlhY

 

[STexan]

It's amazing the beating all towers and their equipment take. Repeated lightning strikes, 100 MPH winds, 70 MPH gusts, large hail, and they keep on going and working as desired. And the engineering that goes into wind turbine towers is impressive too. (a tremendous amount of steel and concrete)

 

[Jeff Duda]

Dan, this is by far and away the most impressive lightning video I have ever seen, from both an entertainment and and educational standpoint. I had never seen so many focused and up-close displays of lightning hitting an object so clearly. It was cool to see the bead out and the return strokes "rebuild" the lower part of the channel to maintain striking the tower. Very impressive. You should sell that video to a production company. I think it would be worth something.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Thanks for the kind words! I can't get enough of the experience of seeing this in person. It's as thrilling as seeing a tornado. I'm hoping to do more of this in the future with even longer lenses.

 

[Stephen Levine]

Magnificent work! I really enjoyed this! Very sensitively and beautifully done! I agree with Jeff, perhaps this could be the seed of a new Nova production or something of that caliber. Fascinating, awesome, and truly capturing the magnificence of God's fireworks.
Also, I enjoyed your choice of music; and it's been really rare I've enjoyed music accompanying storm images. Usually I put the music on mute.

Dan, this is by far and away the most impressive lightning video I have ever seen, from both an entertainment and and educational standpoint. I had never seen so many focused and up-close displays of lightning hitting an object so clearly. It was cool to see the bead out and the return strokes "rebuild" the lower part of the channel to maintain striking the tower. Very impressive. You should sell that video to a production company. I think it would be worth something.

 

[Dave C]

I hope no one minds if I drag up a 2 month old thread, but this was AMAZING. Lightning photography is what led me to storm chasing, and I must say this is one of the best lightning videos I have ever seen. Thanks so much Dan for sharing it! Great stuff!