Texas Lighting Storm

We were in Big Bend National Park setting up the lights to capture the foreground of a planned Milky Way shot. I was with Andy Cook of Rocky Mountain Reflections, a top shelf workshop leader. Some of the group were at the car, some of us setting up, communicating over walki Talkis. Then the call came telling us to come back to the car right away as there was a storm that was closing fast on our location. We scrambled back looking off in the distance and saw lightning strikes as the storm approached.

As the storm came closer the lightning continued and it appeared we were right in its path.

It was totally beautiful and exciting. Sometimes the lightning would completely light up our surroundings. One photographer snapped some daylight-like images as the flashes continued. Several times the lightning was so bright it blew out the image of it.

Now comes the warning. Do not do what we did. We remained outside the cars shooting images until the rain drove us into the cars. The rule, which you would be wise to follow, is: If you can hear the thunder you are too close. Take shelter. We didn't heed this advice but did end up in the cars waiting out the storm. As we sat quietly in the car there was the loudest thunder clap I have ever heard, in fact it wasn't a clap it was a BOOM! It had to be right over the top of the car light and sound together and unless my imagination has gotten involved, the car actually rocked. We left immediately, enough was enough. A short way down the road was an unoccupied visitor center that had a nice warm well lit bathroom. Thank God for the little things.

The storm cleared as quickly as it formed and within an hour we returned to our original location, finished setting up the lighting, and got some nice images. Definitely a night to remember.

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