Oops
It had been some time since I saw a decent close-up lightning strike, when that odd tornado watch was issued over N. IL last week, I went out for the "left-overs" in W. IN.
Managed to capture a distant bolt on my first exposure, 30 sec.
And then I bumped up the ISO hoping to get some better contrast... Just barely missed a sweet bolt on the left side of the image, doh!
And then I was hoping to shoot one with my non-reliable, typically non-chase vehicle "85' Diesel Mercedes Benz". It started raining and I panicked... during the 30 sec. exposure I ran the camera back to the car... at which time the lightning finally occurred with two CG's, one being a sweet multiple return-stroke beauty. So, in the end it made one unique/artsy picture.
The result of running around trying to avoid rain and shoot long exposures was me leaving my "brand-name" Canon cable-release on the roof of my vehicle as I raced down a 4 lane highway to the next county road... once there I realized the cable release was no longer with me and upon finding it discovered that a semi had found it just a minute prior to myself.
Lesson learned: Don't get in such a damned hurry. Your equipment's safety relies upon your patience and careful accounting of it's safe existence within your vehicle, prior to running from close lightning and approaching rains!
PS: Somehow... the thing still works, with some patience and caution as to not cut your finger!
There you go Christopher, we've got some images in here now and one hell of an embarrassing story.
Now let's see those monsoon pictures!!!
Terrence
