Finding Earth

More than 750 lightning strikes pierced the Sydney sky over two hours on Tuesday night, 22 November 2005

Apparently eight thousand houses around Chatswood, North Ryde, Maroubra and Bexley were left without power for the night.

Eleven thousand more homes across Sydney's north-west and west lost power at the height of the storm.

This was the trickiest of the lightning shots to get. The previous, long exposures of 20-30 seconds odd, easily caught far too much lightning.

So I tried to catch a bolt in a 1 second exposure based on the "feel" of an impending strike. After many failures, this was it.

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Comments

← prev 1 2 next →

(139 comments)

Pixie Purls says:

that is a rad picture
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

james m says:

great photo, I was wondering if any one got photos from last nites storm.
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

nunavut says:

amazing photo!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

traceytakesphotos says:

so coool. i didn't see any of it last night!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

asphotos says:

wonderful.. i was in sydney observitory, we didnt see many" stars, but it looked/sounded impresive.
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Naddsy says:

ooohhhh, i got a couple from surry hills but nothing like this one
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

fábio.marim says:

amazing!!!!
[]´s
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

c r i s says:

Amazing shot!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

yeoh_ts says:

Excellent shot! How long did you wait to get this one time shot?
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

AmalieF says:

Glorious.
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

pigeonpoo says:

Effing awesome!!!! Now why do these landscape photographers take 2 weeks to take something beautiful! Bloody tossers the lot of them.

This right here is pure genius! Opportunistic. By chance. That's photography in its purest form.
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Hudlu [deleted] says:

FANTASTIC!!!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Leorex says:

Thanks everyone. Getting both the city lights and lightning balanced was the trickiest part, by the end of the storm I think I found the ideal settings :)

@yeoh_ts: Most of the shots were 20-30+ second exposures. This one, I opened up the aperture for a series of 1 second exposures and luck struck!

@pigeonpoo: I'm sure a landscape photographer would have had a wider-angled lens and nailed the vertical lines!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

BruceLee says:

very cool! Nice capture!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

K_man says:

sssuuuuuuuuuwwwwwwwwweeeeeet
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Internet Sucks [deleted] says:

Like god screaming "I'm rick james bitch!"....sweet photo though
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

j_o_h_n says:

i like the electric storms a lot
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Steve Webel says:

nice photo, very cool!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

ecker says:

GREAT!!!!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

pmarella says:

WOW, absolutely fantastic.
Wonderful!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Speedy_MSD says:

Great photo Ben, I took 98 photos that night, one worked, but not as well as yours!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Emm says:

Fantastic shot - thanks!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Leorex says:

Thanks all.

@I is: I didn't notice the head-shaped cloud until you mentioned it, but I do see the imagery!

@speedy_msd: Thanks Mark. I find the lightning path in your shot amazing!

@Becky Georgehead: Centrepoint would have been a great place to view the storm from! The storm was west of the CBD, so the city itself wasn't hit.
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

belliebottom says:

totally wow!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

KhrysTyany says:

WOW!!!!!!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Lit'l C says:

WoW! very nice!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

CharlieBrown8989 says:

Excellent...
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Coxee says:

Unbelievable! Faved.
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

constant500 says:

super cool! faved as well
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Magnus. says:

Photos are moments. This a GREAT moment!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

soleá says:

awesome!!!!!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

45street | www.victorpuig.com says:

What a moment!. Spectacular light. Beautiful picture. Brilliant composition.
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Rob Barker says:

wow
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

l&coolj says:

awesome!!!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Vitor Castro says:

This is surely the best lightning photo I've ever seen! Terrific!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Moya T says:

Wow is right!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

rhettly says:

these are stunning!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Meredith James says:

Thats amazing!! I can't believe the papers didn't want them!!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

elton stewart says:

that is pretty cool :)
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Soyza  says:

Amazing!!!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Felipe Correa. says:

Great!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

DayLove says:

Wow!!!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Pieter Pieterse says:

Makes me homesick for Africa ! Lightning is fantastic and your capture is really exceptional !
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

Scott_H. says:

Great Lightning shot, please consider posting you lightning shots here. Wonderful capture. www.flickr.com/groups/lightningimages/
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

cybele malinowski says:

woW! you must live in the horizon no?

that lightning was amazing! i was on the ferry late on saturday night as the sky was ajar with electricity. it was awesome, in the true sense of the word. watching the lighting whip at the dark horizon through the omnipresent heads; with shards of white light was almost as tantalizing as our dinner in manly
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

tfire112 says:

Hi, very nice pic. Leorex could you please send me the pic in the biggest size you have by e-mail. I want to create a poster of this wonderful photo.
My Address is tfire112@web.de
Thanks very much. Greets from Germany, Thorsten
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

reluctant shutter says:

I tried lightning chasing for the first time that night too. I have nothing to show :( This is one awesome capture. I tried a series of 20+ sec exposures, then 1 sec, then all sorts of different speeds. Just could not catch one! Well done. Faved.
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

vvt says:

woah!
Posted 50 months ago. ( permalink )

martytdx says:

Excellent lightning shot!
Posted 49 months ago. ( permalink )

diverevan says:

Stunning capture!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Asecis says:

Great capture.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Adam and Tennille says:

Great timing to capture all of that in one second, that's amazing. Love how all the lightning seems to be going towards Centerpoint tower.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

Iker. says:

Wow! Beautiful! Great shot! Awesome!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

mimbrava says:

That was it, indeed. Congrats on the #1 ranking, and thanks for adding this to the Interestingness pool.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

dgr says:

wooooooooow!!!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

thepretenda says:

Yes!!!! Congratulations on such a great photo!!!!!
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

Michael - B [deleted] says:

This is such an awesome picture, I don't even know what to say. Absolutely phantastic, and I just found it by pure serendipidy. I have tried to make similar pictures for years now and consistently failed. Awesome. Thanks for sharing your work.
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

nonnagnegna says:

My god!
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

Paul Gosney says:

What a great bolt!
Great composition..
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

Olly C says:

Thanks for adding this great pic to the group:

www.flickr.com/groups/a-cut-above/

Spread the word.
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

vanvos says:

Spectacular image... great!
Posted 46 months ago. ( permalink )

EL RONNIE says:

que chingon, no mamen
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

Just-breathe says:

Just amazing! Great capture!
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

Shehbaz Ahmad says:

very beautiful picture
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

Alexander Yates says:

The "feel" of an impending strike??? I wish I had spider senses like that!:)

lovely!
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

Eneas says:

You at flick-O-system have angered the insane world. Our retribution will be swift. Woof Woof. Join the biggest group and our march of the lunatics or be smitten. Barkaaa! Our group will rule all. Leave your puny group (flick-O-system) and join us! Together we can rule!!! Mwa ha haa!
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

Stefanoooo says:

Hot shit!
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

Earlette says:

Great photo and capture - I love it.
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

™«Spîrît«ôF»Qâtâr»™ [deleted] says:

thats very beautiful,
u used 1 sec only!! wow great :)
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

dgr says:

genial!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

proxygeek says:

Yeste I took my first lightning snaps. Wonder wen will i come this close...Amazing stuff!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

jimmiknott says:

amazing photo
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

♥moorz84♥ says:

awsome!!!:D
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

ShutterBugL says:

Awesome shot! It is INCREDIBLE that you've captured the lightning flash with a 1 sec exposure! Well done!
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

askog [deleted] says:

amazing
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

Booboo McGoo says:

magic...
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

dshearer says:

Good god...
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

Christian Frausto Bernal says:

a beauty!

***********************************
You have been invited to post this striking photo
in the pool Flora, Nature Contests, in the thread
11th Contest : Lightning; POST HERE
www.flickr.com/groups/flowercontests/discuss/ 721575942082...
Do you know of other Lightning pictures?
Then feel free to pass this on!
************************************
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

Le Hibou says:

Excellent shot!
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

froca says:

this is nice!!!!!

u sure got my vote
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

reddiestorm says:

Woah, Cool Photo
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

Cagey_Butterfly says:

WINNER: You won 1st Place in the 11th Contest: Lightning
www.flickr.com/groups/flowercontests/discuss/ 721575942195...
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

muha... says:

congratulations
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

Skinnyde says:

Wonderfully captured.
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

Detailswe4sake*Photography says:

see that your photo is the flora nature group icon!
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

joojanta says:

congratulations! truly a winner! awesome.
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

Cagey_Butterfly says:

Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

Sospitis says:

This is a great shot! I just started the Top 20 Lightning Group, and it needs a little help getting off the ground, you should consider adding this, it would do well.
Posted 41 months ago. ( permalink )

h a n g i n g p i x e l s [deleted] says:

Again...great sets...loove it...very well captured.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

WaveCult (luis.m.justino) says:

Simply spectacular!
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

David de Groot says:

A 1 second shot - wow! My pitiful lightning attempts have all been 15 sec exposures (the longest my current camera will do), and none are as impressive as that.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

dave_shutterbug says:

Excellent!
Posted 38 months ago. ( permalink )

andrewcaswell says:

Simply SENSATIONAL. Well done & thanks for sharing.
Posted 38 months ago. ( permalink )

Snelvis says:

Stunning - found this photo after scanning flickr forums looking for techniques after I had my first go last night when a storm passed over Newcastle. I should have tried some shorter exposures myself. I guess there is a lot of luck involved with the strike here but your framing and overall composure is also excellent.
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

rage@cebuSSC-Cebu says:

WOW!!
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

wuptemagin says:

very nice...
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

700shooter says:

WOW
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

pigeonpoo says:

This must deserve the gold award.

(gallery & instructions)
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

worldwidewandering says:

You are invited to post this and any other photos you have of Australia to worldwidewandering - a travel atlas. Post comments and
thumbnail photos to the Australia discussion thread.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Gav Cooney says:

ben, this is on on the page 1 of most interesting photos with "sydney" tag on flickr. nice work. great shot. I remember that night well. I sat on my balcony and watched the show.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken with a Canon EOS 300D Digital.
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Taken on November 22, 2005
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Finding Earth

Comments

Pixie Purls says:

james m says:

nunavut says:

traceytakesphotos says:

asphotos says:

Naddsy says:

fábio.marim says:

c r i s says:

yeoh_ts says:

AmalieF says:

pigeonpoo says:

Hudlu [deleted] says:

Leorex says:

BruceLee says:

K_man says:

Internet Sucks [deleted] says:

j_o_h_n says:

Steve Webel says:

ecker says:

pmarella says:

Speedy_MSD says:

*Emm* says:

Leorex says:

belliebottom says:

KhrysTyany says:

Lit'l C says:

CharlieBrown8989 says:

Coxee says:

constant500 says:

Magnus. says:

soleá says:

45street | www.victorpuig.com says:

Rob Barker says:

l&coolj says:

Vitor Castro says:

Moya T says:

rhettly says:

Meredith James says:

elton stewart says:

Soyza  says:

Felipe Correa. says:

DayLove says:

Pieter Pieterse says:

Scott_H. says:

cybele malinowski says:

tfire112 says:

reluctant shutter says:

vvt says:

martytdx says:

diverevan says:

Asecis says:

Adam and Tennille says:

Iker. says:

mimbrava says:

dgr says:

thepretenda says:

Michael - B [deleted] says:

nonnagnegna says:

Paul Gosney says:

Olly C says:

vanvos says:

EL RONNIE says:

Just-breathe says:

Shehbaz Ahmad says:

Alexander Yates says:

Eneas says:

Stefanoooo says:

Earlette says:

™«Spîrît«ôF»Qâtâr»™ [deleted] says:

dgr says:

proxygeek says:

jimmiknott says:

♥moorz84♥ says:

ShutterBugL says:

askog [deleted] says:

Booboo McGoo says:

dshearer says:

Christian Frausto Bernal says:

Emm says:

rage@cebuSSC-Cebu says: