Nature's Will

 Click👆🏻About™ : Guemes Island, WA

Lightning

Moment: "Wait for It"

Weather: Rain, lightning and clouds

Crowd: None

Time at Location: 1 Hour

Date: 03.26.2025

Observation: A lightning storm advancing from the over the Anacortes refinery.

AI Assistant: Lightning occurs when electrical charges build up in storm clouds. These charges separate into positive charges at the top of the cloud and negative charges at the bottom. When the difference in charge between the cloud and the ground (or within the cloud itself) becomes too great, nature balances it out with a sudden, powerful discharge—lightning!

Each lightning bolt is incredibly fast, traveling at speeds of about 270,000 mph. Despite its speed, lightning doesn't strike randomly—it tends to hit tall, conductive objects like trees, buildings, or lightning rods.

Capture: I was monitoring the app for lightning strikes and noticed that one was on course to end up over the Anacortes refinery. I gathered my gear and headed to my favorite spot on Guemes Island to capture storms. I set up the camera on a sturdy tripod and adjusted the exposure. The wind was picking up, and the air smelled of plasma. My daughter's hair was standing on end. I knew it was getting close and was all set, with my truck parked to block some of the wind. I had the camera's back screen ready to click when touched. Then it was just a "wait it". THE POEM

Note: Capturing lightning can be thrilling, but safety comes first! Always photograph from a safe distance, ideally inside a car or building. Avoid open fields, tall objects, and water, as they attract lightning. Use a tripod and remote shutter to keep yourself sheltered while snapping those electrifying shots! Stay safe!

Equipment: Nikon Z7 II~w/Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR  👈🏻Amazon

Distance From Subject: 2 to 5 Miles

Tripod Used: Manfrotto  👈🏻Amazon   My setup is from 2009 this similar.

Setting: Always Manual Mode 90s ~ f/22 ~ ISO 200 ~ 46MM 

© Chris LeBoutillier

“Photographs are silent; one’s thoughts give them life.” ™  -Chris LeBoutillier