The dark clouds were rolling in just as I arrived home today. I had driven home taking advantage of the warm air by opening my moon roof to the sky and sticking my hand out every chance I got. At red lights, I’d blissfully turn my face up to the gathering clouds, watching their ever-changing patterns. It was serene. At home, I spent the next hour gleefully enjoying the air before the storm. I love this weather! (Certainly have written about it quite a bit too.)
As the workers laid bricks on the new homes next door, I dutifully stood outside on the porch with my camera, determined to catch a photo of lightning this time around. I just can’t get enough of how they split the sky and make the whole area glow. Those crooked lines crawling across the clouds, flashing in and out before I can even react… they’re so elusive. I could sit and stare for hours as they danced around me. I really wish I had a panoramic room since I found myself chasing the light of flashes from one end of the house to the other.
After awhile, the grumbling of thunder began and a light rain splattered down. I watched as plane after plane kept coming in to the airport amid all that insanity. Oh what I wouldn’t give to be on one of those planes, watching lightning flashing around me! I’ve always been fascinated by how things look differently when you’re up in the sky and I wish I could have experienced that. Those lucky passengers. As I admired their good fortune, I noticed that I could hear birds chirping. Strange, since I would have thought they’d be hiding somewhere. Perhaps they knew the storm wasn’t that big, so they stuck around to wait it out and sing it off.
What a peaceful way to start the evening. Thunderstorms calm and excite me all at once, and always bring a sense of contentment.
When I first looked out, I noticed the moon just peeking out in the distance.
For the longest time I got no more than the glow from a lightning strike.
That same view without the flash of light!
lightning bolt from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Construction guys kept banging away as the storm brewed. Here are some freeze frames:
Then the one flash I did capture confused my lens and made it blurry.
lightning flash from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Such a quick burst! Totally explosive.
Smokey was really enjoying the weather too.
airplane lightning from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
If only I was on that plane!!!
I managed to get a little horizontal one!
I changed my view from east to north and was rewarded with this beauty. Success!!!