This shot has been on my list since moving to San Francisco. Unfortunately, I've only seen lightning 3 times in the 2 years I've lived here. Tonight, I got lightning in 3 seperate 20 second exposures. This is a single exposure.
I shot this from my office window because I was too chicken to get my new camera wet (or worse).
This photo was taken on April 12, 2012 in Rincon Hill, San Francisco, CA, US, using a Canon EOS 5D Mark III.
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Comments and faves
tokerud, capehorn, Steven Christenson, KayDub, and 1901 other people added this photo to their favorites.
UnklStuart (13 months ago | reply)
Holy Moly
Steven Christenson (13 months ago | reply)
NBC just showed a shot like this. Super cool Phil!
Tim McManus (13 months ago | reply)
Awesome
Steven Christenson (13 months ago | reply)
Oh now they've said it's yours!!!!
Love your other shot, too and the explanation.
missvelvetpants (13 months ago | reply)
amazing picture!!!!
phil_mcgrew (13 months ago | reply)
Thanks! I sent it to them and asked if they wanted to air it.
Chas.™ (13 months ago | reply)
fantastic.
jillriter.com (13 months ago | reply)
WOW
nichameleon (13 months ago | reply)
Very well done!
keaneiscool (13 months ago | reply)
Holy hell. Great job!
resistmedia (13 months ago | reply)
This is beautiful! Hope I see it on Boing Boing or Laughing Squid tomorrow!
aloveletteraway ♥ (13 months ago | reply)
This is such an amazing and eerily beautiful shot. Good job, sir!
dheideman (13 months ago | reply)
Wow, this is an incredible shot!
shodoshan (13 months ago | reply)
Stunning!
goofcitygoof (13 months ago | reply)
love it!
campbellsmom2007 (13 months ago | reply)
Beautiful... and SCARY!! Great shot!
auntyalias (13 months ago | reply)
Epic shot! This will go viral!
melicious3 (13 months ago | reply)
Truly fabulous. I had to share with family and friends now that we have moved from Texas to SF and its mild weather.
campbellsmom2007 (13 months ago | reply)
Nice view from your office, btw...
ringleader3 (13 months ago | reply)
Thats a 20 second exposure? How intense must that lightning musa been?
Arjen van der Broek (13 months ago | reply)
WOW!!!
Terry Hancock www.downunderobservatory.com (13 months ago | reply)
way to go Phil, thats an incredible capture
Devar (13 months ago | reply)
Awesome.
Karthik Ram (13 months ago | reply)
Stunning!
Éothain (13 months ago | reply)
Woooooooow...
dsleeter_2000 (13 months ago | reply)
congrats! Great work.
deciphered (13 months ago | reply)
Any chance of posting the original, or something wallpaper-sized?
magohom (13 months ago | reply)
Impressive!
_lmc (13 months ago | reply)
fantastic!
Eric J. Schultz (13 months ago | reply)
Excellent shot!
raineys (13 months ago | reply)
Wow, that's amazing!!!
yuzu (13 months ago | reply)
Incredible!
Sam Breach (13 months ago | reply)
Great shot. Good news - I think your new camera is waterproof :D Bad news - have lived here 11 years and this is only the third time I have seen a decent batch of lightning!
CircadianReflections Photography (13 months ago | reply)
Awesome! I've wanted a shot like this too, but as you say it's rare we get lightening here. I've always supposed I'd have to be somewhere else to get a shot. Excellent thought and action to get this photo!
The Thunder sounded wonderful, but I didn't see the lightening. Congratulations on the NBC plug!
stechico (13 months ago | reply)
+fav!
jikatu (13 months ago | reply)
amazing!!!!
ancawonka (13 months ago | reply)
Fabulous!
jackdimmit (13 months ago | reply)
WOW!
turtleish (13 months ago | reply)
I don't suppose "North News & Pictures Ltd" is you, Phil?
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2129246
ChrisWalkerPhotography (13 months ago | reply)
Neato ... Cool shot!
serzhile (13 months ago | reply)
fantastic capture!
Jack Fusco (13 months ago | reply)
Pretty incredible shot, Phil. Nice work!
anernay (13 months ago | reply)
So we can now say we knew u before u were famous? This is so rare here I am glad u got it!! Awesome!
mike3k (13 months ago | reply)
Wow! This is the first time I've seen a thunderstorm since I moved here at the beginning of the year. Reminds me of Florida.
luigig75 (13 months ago | reply)
amazing photo and capture, I guess it doesn't happen everyday in San Francisco
photogriff.ca (13 months ago | reply)
Nailed it!
magnetismus (13 months ago | reply)
this capture is amazing! Faved ;)
cokeclsc (13 months ago | reply)
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
Dar Moorhouse (13 months ago | reply)
Spectacular. Really well done.
Faire Un Voeu [deleted] (13 months ago | reply)
Oh!