Lightening Strikes 200m from Photographers

[GypsyHighSide]

I think I would just pack it up and head home after having a strike come that close.

[Abel]

that chick needs to change her drawers...

[SCone]

It happened to me last night. Went outside to catch some of the show off to the north of me & WHAM, a bolt hits not more than a street or two over from me. That was it... I'm gone.

[kenw]

Wide open spaces standing next to tall-ish metal poles in a storm....not the sharpest lens in the case, eh?

[rab3rd]

I need to clean MY drawers..... I like how she kinda ducked, like it was gonna help...

[Rson]

Judging from the write light on the right camera, they got it, I would love to see the shot.

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by GypsyHighSide

I think I would just pack it up and head home after having a strike come that close.

Actually, it was 1,227 feet away. Give or take. I based this on my stop watch showing that the sound arrived 1.1 seconds after the lightning hit. At sea level sound travels at 1,116 ft/sec. I'm not sure what altitude this occurred at or I could have given a more precise measurement

[GypsyHighSide]

Originally Posted by Nikonfan

Actually, it was 1,227 feet away. Give or take. I based this on my stop watch showing that the sound arrived 1.1 seconds after the lightning hit. At sea level sound travels at 1,116 ft/sec. I'm not sure what altitude this occurred at or I could have given a more precise measurement

Whatever the distance it would be to close for me!

[Nikonfan]

You and me both! Thanks for sharing Rob. That was a cool video. Especially the slow motion part. Did you notice the earth that erupted out of the ground? I would be interested to see what kind of crater that made.

[RKEnnis]

Wow, that is really something!

The only time I actually saw lightning strike something was about 12 years ago. I was sitting right seat in a twin engine Piper. We were on short final, and a big bolt of lightning came down and struck the ground just to the right of the runway, about 100 yards down from the numbers. Afterwards, the pilot and I were like, WTF, did you see that?!

[camera shy]

IT does go to show that lightning does not always strike a tall metal object first. This bolt just shot directly to the ground. When the two charges build up, they must equalize and you can't predict at what point they'll discharge unless you've rigged the scene with 'grounded' objects, etc.

[andyz]

Like the old joke, I don't have to run faster than the bear, just the guy that is with me. If you'd shooting lightning strikes, you want a shorter metal tripod than your friend has - just in case.

[TheFantasticG]

I would love to get that kind of shot.

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by andyz

Like the old joke, I don't have to run faster than the bear, just the guy that is with me. If you'd shooting lightning strikes, you want a shorter metal tripod than your friend has - just in case.

That's a good tip! I suppose you spike a metal pole in the ground 40 feet away from you. However, I wouldn't want to hold the pole very long while setting that up. Maybe do it before the storm arrives?