Lightning over Northern Arizona, 2004

John andrews thank you for the compliment to my work. I am sure you will be a good photgrapher yourself. When I am the pow photographer (next week I hope) I will be sure to look for your coment.

 

Thanks very much again, and to all those that appreciate my coment on the pow this wweek by Brian.

Thanks, G. (word) I'm using PS 5.02 (olde tyme no option to save for web) and I've never had this problem in a browser when using this method before... it's really strange! The settings appear to be the same as other working images.

 

Yes, I guess I didn't really say anything about the image itself-- I think it's fantastic. Call it luck, but I think, based on the framing of the houses and hills, that there was a plan. A photographer can't make the lightning do what he'd like it to do, of course, but it looks like there was as much of an idea for a final image as one can have with lightning.

Brian, many kudos on a very well composed shot. Frankly, I think the untouched image looks better... I think it looks more like what my eyes would see and that's what draws me in. But, I'm not going to rip you to shreds over that! Great image, really. I'd be stoked to have this in my folder.

 

Night photography is extremely challenging and sometimes you end up with a whole roll of poorly exposed shots. As we all know light meters suck at night. And, when there is lightning in the sky or some other short-lived event, you just gotta point and go. Judging someone as a poor photographer for trying to make the most of a finite event is hardly constructive. Who cares if someone chooses ISO 400 at f/8.0 or any other combination?! I think Brian knows how to use his camera, as is clearly exhibited in his folders.

This is a wonderful photograph. I am particularly intriqued by the "fortuitous balance evidenced by this image" ie. the fact that both of the two major bolts of lighting appear to strike, from the perspective of the camera, right behind each of the two houses. The juxtaposition of the cold, electric light behind the warmly lit houses creates an especially magical effect. As you probably realize, the chances of the lightning striking in this way are very low. Were you really this fortunate, or was this a cut-and-paste?

Stunning. It gives the impression that the lightning is powering the lights in the houses, i.e. electricity both natural and man-made.

I think Brian?s photo is a good choice for POW, well seen, pretty well taken, half well reshaped in PS. Hey, at least for me he's done a great job conveying the overall shot, the way he'd hoped for. I can tell you his patience and persistence for taking this kind of shot is commendable. Having driven through this area for years, between Flag and Kendrick park, frequently wishing I had taken my camera when there were these beautiful summer monsoon storms over the peaks. To just have pulled over and put the cam up on a pod and waited for a few hours for a good one, not much of a chance for as good a shot as he's got here. Good Work Brian.

 

Regarding Marc's comments. I think Doug's explanation of Marc's communication intent and result is insightful, though I would give Marc a little more credit, he's a very good communicator, English as second language and all. And I might add, on all the sites that Marc (and Doug too) is on he takes time to look at, think about and respond with about a good a crit as I have seen. After all, isn't that what we do on these photo sites.....the overall goal is view photos and help each others work, respond with what information it is that we wish to share. Not always, everyone is in this for their own reasons. But Marc's crits on my work are always highly valued and appreciated. Often wished I had more time to write as well and as often as Marc. Thanks Marc.

 

So here's to you Brian on your POW, job well done!! Just watch yourself with that PS stuff, don't be putt'n any halos in those tree lines anymore, ya hear me....jes kidd'n. Best Regards all, Bradley

This is a fantastic shot! It is centerred just so the lightning is like a lit bridge spanning the two buildings.

I think the original is much more beautiful than the lightened image. So IMHO the original exposure is correct. The opened up foreground looks unnnatural.

.I really need to rescind my question about whether this was photoshop'ed...upon close inspection I do not believe that it was...and about this photographer being lucky, personally I avoided this term because I didn't want to downplay his achievement, which in this instance, is tremendous. And about other's questions about the lighting of the trees not appearing right, I disagree....that lighting appears entirely natural, and as a result of the lightning. But to be purely logical, one must admit that EVERY component of a picture contributes to the final product. Therefore, if the photographer was lucky in any component, this necessarily translates to the fact that luck was required for the final product. Again, this is not to downplay the achievement and the effort of the photographer, but rather to counter some faulty logic that has been employed in this forum.

The POW can work up lots of comments and I find that all the comments, educational

From a technical or artistic view point all that contribute add to our understanding of a photo. This picture and the comments have taught me more respect for the highly technical aspects of the photographer as well as the artistic merits of the end product.

Keep up the good work all. You have a new member in Awe of the Art.

This picture is unreal at some level, and that detracts a bit but is stunning in it's form.

That is the dogs bollocks of lightning pictures, great shot Brian, its like the lightning is powering the porch lights :)

Very good , keep up the good work