More Images from The 5th

 

Lightning Thunderstorm  08.05.09

Americans are twice as likely to die from lightning than from a hurricane, tornado or flood.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates there are 200 deaths and 750 severe injuries from lightning each year in the U.S.

20% of all lightning victims die from the strike.

70% of survivors will suffer serious long-term effects.

Annually, there are more than 10,000 forest fires caused by lightning.

 

 

Lightning Mother Nature’s Fireworks

Sunday Longmont Times Call Newspaper. ( 08.09.09) I made the front page of the Life Section.

Here is the link to the on-line version.

http://www.timescall.com/communityTC/news-story.asp?ID=17464

 

Check out my on-line Lighting Nature Galley at:  http://www.TheLightningMan.com

 

 

 

Lightning Storm 08.05.09 Thanks DAD!

Wednesday August 5th 8:30pm. WOW what an incredible night.  Lightning started hitting south of the Boulder County Fairgrounds where the County fair is going on.  So now I get this  amazing image in my head of the Lights from the rides and Lightning bolts in the background.  By the time I get there it stops hitting.  So I started photographing the County fair.  And then I get another image in my head the full moon with one of the rides.  And when I get it lined up the clouds cover the moon never to be seen again.  Bummer!

 

Then it happened.  It started hitting the front range… it may have even hit Meeker and Longs Peak.  Something I have never seen since I have been shooting here.   It was tough getting out of there and to a good location.  So I bee lined it to Airport road.  Had to act quick. My first spot was at Silver Creek high school just to try and get a shot of the peaks.  But this location was not good enough… so I went to my old stand by at McIntosh Lake.  Time was of the essence.  It was really smacking the front range pretty good.  Probably the best I have seen here in Colorado hitting the front range maybe even the divide.  It was really hard to tell.  But  at my spot,  I was shooting toward the twin peaks trying to get my dream shot I have been working on.  Some really amazing bolts.  Some of the best yet this year. I will let you be the judge.  It was tough holding it together because of being excited and trying to get set up before it goes away.

 

 And I have to tell you this years storms have been incredible, and for me I some how I believe it is my father up above helping me out.  And I have felt that way all summer long while chasing storms.  And everytime I would nail one I would say ” Thanks Dad!”  And tonight was definitely the best I have seen. 

 

And tonight… is one year to the day my father passed away….  Thanks DAD!

Gallery: http://www.TheLightningMan.com

More  new Images at http://www.AZLightning.com

Need a Portrait Photographer in Longmont or Boulder.  Check out my Family Photography work at

http://www.Striking-Photography.com

Boulder County Lightning Storm 07.10.09

This storm started later in the evening.  Just how I  like them.  It was dinner time, for us we eat late, it was  about 8:30.  I had just got done cooking. Everypne was having something different. We were just about to sit down and it started.  So as I have done many times… I looked at my wife and son and said ” I got to go”  Something they are used too hearing when the first sound of thunder hits.  So I went to north east Boulder County just north of Longmont to one of my favorite lakes.  It was cloud to cloud lightning.  Thunder heads were lighting up but the bolts would never appear.  If they had… it would have been one of my best nights.  It lasted for a long time.  Very beautiful and hard to capture the true beauty on film.

 

 

This Bud’s for you!

So it’s Monday June 22nd, 9:30 at night and I am thinking there will be no storms tonight YEA, I need a break and boom another one comes in fast and furious.  How many so far???

 

 I have to tell you this was one of the scariest storms I have ever chased.  Flashes of lightning in the clouds hitting in ALL directions.  You could not tell where the bolts were going to strike.  Now that’s very dangerous.  This storm really scared me. There were times I would not even get out of the SUV.  I chased this storm all over Boulder County open space looking for something interesting to photograph with the storm in the right position.  Not always easy. It was heading North.  This storm was so amazing and one of the only storms I have ever chased in 20 years like it.  I was able to stay with this storm and it seemed we were traveling at the same speed.  

 

My location was always right off the middle in the rain.  So north we went…. looking for something good.  Seemed I was always by houses and not the subjects I was looking for.  And when I did find something, the storm was not in the right position. Went through Berthoud…. then Loveland…. then Fort Collins… and then… it happened.  I was finally out of residential areas and in wide open space and there it was…  The Budweiser plant, all lit up and ready for me. And I have to tell you it was crazy. Flashes in all directions and very dangerous.  When I first started shooting I would hit my shutter button and then sit in the back of the SUV with my feet off the ground.  ( Fact:” Rubber shoes will not give you any meaningful protection from lightning.”  So I am guessing my official Lightning shoes, crocs will not give “Meaningful “protection.  Better than spikes That went on for a while. It got less threatening after a little time and I could relax without as much worry. The stormed hung in there till a little after midnight before heading into Wyoming.  I almost kept going and I did for a little while but it was time to call it a night.  http://www.TheLightningMan.com   Print Gallery: http://www.AZLIghtning.com

Country Lightning

Last night was another night of chasing Lightning storms.  It is crazy trying to get to a good location before the storm moves on.  I have a few shots/Locations  that I am working on.  Hoping to pull them out before summer is over.  Here is an Image from last nights storm.  It was one of the first shots I took and then… did not get much after that besides soaking wet!

I did an Interview with the Daily Camera too.  Look for some images in the paper.  Every day I pinch myself cause I can not believe I live here.  What an incredible place Boulder County is!!!

Here is a link to the Gallery:  http://bit.ly/tHMFt 

Pitbull Puppy

Here is a cute Pitbull Puppy I photographed this week.  I made some funny noises and she gave me the classic tilt of the head look.  Dogs have really become my favorite subjects.  Funny I used to specialize in Horses and here I am back with animals.  Dogs are sooo cute not that horses aren’t.  This is  great way to remember them when they are gone.  Wish they could live forever.  My childhood dog lived to be 16.  Well here’s the puppy.  Hope you like.  If you would like a portrait of your dog like this… Call Me at 303-834-2524  or visit http://www.Striking-Photography.com for more information.

 

ALizee and Harry 2 dogs

 

Mt Meeker 13,911′ and Longs Peak 14,255′

This is a view I never get sick of and can’t stop photographing.  Took these yesterday on my bikes ride.