In the Beginning...

Daniel J. McCa..., 9 months ago

Fantastic capture Geoff. Beautiful!

Michael Bermi..., 9 months ago

This shot has incredibly dramatic lighting ( thats not a misprint) The way the foreground, coast, water and sky are lit. is breathtaking.
Great stuff!

Sharon Hammond, 9 months ago

A ripper image.

Geoff Coleman, 9 months ago

Whoa you folks are quick – thank you for your lovely comments

Antanas, 9 months ago

excellent

Tony Middleton, 9 months ago

This looks very spectacular Geoff ! the colours are amazing too.Did you crop this at all? If so I’d also love to see the full version.

:)

Lindsay Knowles, 9 months ago

Brilliant Geoff

Globalphotos, 9 months ago

Wow, amazing capture, would have loved to have witnessed this :)) Scary but magic !!!!

dinghysailor1, 9 months ago

**!
wht a spectacular result but do take care!

Geoff Coleman, 9 months ago

Thanks Antanas.
Tony – yeah it’s about a quarter of the original shot. Love to show you it but don’t know how to post it into the comments box. Any suggestions? It was one of those “I can’t believe this…” shots. I was just setting up the camera and because it was night I couldn’t seen anything through the viewfinder so just pointed the camera vaguely in the direction I’d seen the lightning flashing just to get a shot to sort out my composition, level horizon. focal length, etc. That’s how I shoot at night – take a shot, look at it on the LCD, make the relevant adjustments, take another shot, etc until I get it right. Then I take the shot I want. So this was my first set-up shot for the night and of course this lightning bolt chose to go off just then and right at the extreme edge of the frame (the original was in landscape mode) lol. So believe me it took some surgery to get it up to this point I can tell you lol!!

Geoff Coleman, 9 months ago

Oops – thanks LIndsay, Global and dingy – you all jumped in while I was writing that piece to Tony.

Lizspittall, 9 months ago

Awesome capture.

storm22, 9 months ago

wow what an awesome shot well done!

EOS20, 9 months ago

Wow!! Fantastic shot.

Craig Hender, 9 months ago

This is just spectacular!!!!!!!!! Absolutely superb, i love it.

PigleT, 9 months ago

Woohoo, nice one :)

Matt White, 9 months ago

Great shot fantastic ocean views just spectacular

Rhana Griffin, 9 months ago

(insert the sound of a jaw dropping here)

Helene Kippert, 9 months ago

Speechless!!

Shaddy, 9 months ago

Bloody hell – awesome work Geoff!

Andy73, 9 months ago

OMG, this is bloody awesome! One of the best lightening shots I have ever seen. Brilliant work!

Julie Just, 9 months ago

Great capture Geoff, love the colours!

Nick Johnson, 9 months ago

Really awesome capture! So close to missing it! Jaw dropper for sure!

Douzy, 9 months ago

Wow wow and again wow!!! I think my favourite of yours. This is so surreal, the colours, clarity, and strength of the lightning just make for a perfect and rare shot. Spectacular capture Geoff!! :))

Geoff Coleman, 9 months ago

Thanks to everyone for your generous comments – very much appreciated.

Kenneth Fugate, 9 months ago

wow!

Jeff Burns, 9 months ago

breathtaking shot

Roelene Baard, 9 months ago

very very good shot. wish i was that good.

Gene Praag, 9 months ago

Wow…..great timing and the color, WOW!

rflower, 9 months ago

this is great.

ByrneFoto, 9 months ago

Stunning capture Geoff! Simply breathtaking!!

Stephen Ryan, 9 months ago

That is an impressive picture. Way to go!!! You really captured the power and colour of the storm.

Annette Blattman, 9 months ago

stunning

Christian Hartung, 9 months ago

awesome…. great timing

Jacqueline Rojo, 9 months ago

I recall this being one of the first images of yours I saw and immediately I fell in love with your work Geoff, this is truly majestic and equally stunning!

Antanas, 9 months ago

thanks

Bahoke, 9 months ago

Excellent capture!!

Darren Stones, 9 months ago

One of the best lightning shots I’ve seen, Geoff. A+.

Geoff Coleman, 9 months ago

There are some particularly lovely comments here – thank you one and all for taking the time to write them.

DawsonImages, 9 months ago

Now that is a lighting capture, best of class from me

elisab, 9 months ago

This is a fantastic lightning shot.

Kenneth Fugate, 9 months ago

sweet

Travis Easton, 9 months ago

stunning

Matt Lauder, 8 months ago

Brilliant capture… shooting lightning isnt the safest thing to do, metal tripod, metal camera on a high point…. great reward though.

mikrin, 8 months ago

Very cool!!!

Michelle Boyer, 8 months ago

Great composition

Gene Praag, 8 months ago

Incredible timing! Well done!

studiofascino, 8 months ago

amazing shot!

footyman, 8 months ago

Great shot

Holly Werner, 8 months ago

Beautiful shot just an amazing catch.

vonne, 8 months ago

This was definitely worth getting wet for! WOW! Perfection!

lance leopold, 8 months ago

Spectacular capture!!!

Rosina Lamberti, 7 months ago

Simply beautiful….great colour!

Dave Aarons, 7 months ago

WOW, this is amazing, excellent capture

Nikki Trexel, 7 months ago

amazing capture, and a what wonderful imagination you have!

Joyce Dickens,..., 7 months ago

superb image; couldn’t have planned it any better….breathtakingly beautiful!

Victoria Ashman, 7 months ago

this is an awesome shot! definitely a fave!

Paul Henderso..., 7 months ago

The composition is unbelevablely good. I can’t put into words how much I like it!

Phil Deaves, 6 months ago

Top shot…electrifying capture.

Megan Dacy, 6 months ago

Wow, fabulous! That’s so close! Eee!

Robert Mullner, 6 months ago

Unreal Geoff…don’t know how I missed checking this one out…that’s one hell of a bolt…yep, an underdak changing experience..!!...

Mariaan Krog, 6 months ago

Awesome image. Brilliant capture.

Maya -, 6 months ago

A truly amazing shot. The colours are awesome. I love lightening but probably not as closely as you experienced it.

Jim Phillips, 6 months ago

Wow… what a capture!!!

Pat Moore, 6 months ago

This is absolutely stunning, I love it!!!

Craig Harris, 6 months ago

Brilliant capture Geoff, it just goes to show that sometimes you need to be in the right place at the right time and have a little luck to boot! good stuff

loolalindaloo, 6 months ago

wow what a capture! beautiful

Mark Peterson, 6 months ago

Awesome!

Mike Davitt, 6 months ago

Wow, awsome,fantastic, love it.

Mel Brackstone, 6 months ago

Oh yeah, we can never take nature for granted….magnificent capture!!

traceyanne, 6 months ago

congratulation on the feature image, great shot

tomg, 6 months ago

Stunning shot, great colour and composition …

Travis Easton, 6 months ago

Congrates on scoring the water and seascape avitar Geoff, it’s an oustanding image.

ByrneFoto, 6 months ago

Stunning Geoff!

shanghaiwu, 6 months ago

this is brilliant
you are also

Ciska, 6 months ago

Another spectacular shot, well done

geoff curtis, 6 months ago

This is brilliant…..instant fave.

DonnaM, 6 months ago

Congrads on being feature pick…well deserved…this shot is crazy awesome
composition, color, crispness…shockingly perfect…well done Geoff!

blossom, 6 months ago

Brilliantly captured!!! Congratulations on having “In the Beginning…..” chosen for the new Avatar!!!

LindaR, 6 months ago

Geoff ~ I am so glad you were chosen for being recognized ~ otherwise I might have missed this “vision” ~ just spectacular!! And congrats ~ well deserved :)

Claire Farley, 6 months ago

Very well deserved! Top shot!

Macky, 6 months ago

Congrats Geoff!!

Anthony Hedger, 6 months ago

a amazing shot Geoff – well done for a great capture

Mandy Fell, 6 months ago

Brilliant shot and great to see av etc on the comments. Have been trying to shoot storms for ages and never managed this might just help. Again fantastic image

Carolyn Bishop, 6 months ago

Spectacular capture! Great title! And congratulations on featured image!

Cornelia Togea, 6 months ago

beautiful work! spectacular sight!

KENDALL EUTEMEY, 6 months ago

Fantastic! Congratulations.

George Lenz, 6 months ago

congrats… well deserved…. great image.. was this a compilation?

Tina Renaud, 6 months ago

WOW! stunning work, congrats

Christina Eliz..., 6 months ago

Georgous !! Great brilliant color and capture ! And I love the title.

Anne Smyth, 6 months ago

stunning image and congratulations on the win!!

Charlene Aycock, 6 months ago

omg this is a shot I can only dream about, I love it. fantastic. I want one. lol

James Carrick, 6 months ago

Congratulations, a superb capture, inspired, well worth the adventure.

Jennifer Woodward, 6 months ago

Congrats on your image being chosen – very dramatic image! I’d love to photograph lighting at some stage. We don’t get mugh here in the Uk, those lighting deflectors we have must be doing their job! Shame though, I love a good thunder storm! :-)

Michael Rowley..., 6 months ago

wow good on you such brilliance in this image,the best strike i have seen here

Sean Farragher, 6 months ago

brilliant capture

Neil Boucher, 6 months ago

What can I say – it’s all been said. I was gobsmacked by this shot when at first glance I thought it might be photoshop added lightning. To read and find that you had actually captured this in camera – unbelievable! I dream of storm pictures like this. Very scary though, but what a rush eh! What an amazing photograph.

frankc, 6 months ago

The ever elusive lightening shot … well captured!!

Jerry Stewart, 6 months ago

nothing I could add it is just awesome.
congratulations Jerry

Geraldine Lefoe, 6 months ago

Geoff that was one amazing storm – I was at a party and wishing I had my camera with me as I watched it . but don’t think I’d have liked being out in it!

Tony Fallon, 6 months ago

Think this is the best strike I’ve ever seen !

MaverickPrints, 6 months ago

Congratulations, it is an absolutely awesome picture and a story to go with it, all the better. :-)

Nicole Goggins, 6 months ago

stunning!

Kristina K, 6 months ago

lightning is so so scarry, i tried very hard to capture a storm we had just recently and all i got was blurry lights, like you i couldnt see in the view finder so not having done this before it was a learning curve. well done on your capture and thanks for sharing how you did it to.

John Pitman, 6 months ago

Amazing capture. Well worht the danger element. John

Geoff Coleman, 6 months ago

Wow what a treat to log on this moring and come to this – I am blown away by the response this image has got since being chosen as the Water and Seascape avitar. Thanks to all for your generous comments – very much appreciated. And for those who asked – yes it’s real (and I’ve got the scars to prove it lol).

Liv Stockley, 6 months ago

Wow wow wow this is an amazing photograph the storm is very close….

Dave Lloyd, 6 months ago

Brilliant image !!! Absolutely love it.

Natalie Broome, 6 months ago

Wow, this is an amazing shot! Great timing, colours and framing. Excellent work!

Angela E.L. Cl..., 6 months ago

Fantastic!

John Conway, 6 months ago

amazing work Geoff

mklau, 6 months ago

Biblical indeed. An amazing capture that has that illusive quality called “quality”

Helen Tyralik, 6 months ago

awesome image, your braver than me.

MattTworkowski, 6 months ago

Absolutely stunning mate

digitalmidge, 6 months ago

Probably one of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever experienced. This is magnificent beyond words and thoughts…

AnonymousShadow, 6 months ago

This picture is simply incredible, well done

TheArtist78, 6 months ago

What an amazing shot, your so lucky to have storms like that.
I look forward to the rest of the series.
Watching

Geoff Coleman in reply to digitalmidge’s comment, 6 months ago

What a beautiful comment digitalmidge – you made my day!!

Matt Halls, 6 months ago

One of the best lightning captures I’ve ever seen! Superb Geoff and thanks for the life-risking effort to bring it to us! ;)

chriso, 6 months ago

This is truly amazing. Wondeful colour and contrast. I can see that this would have been very scary but well worth the fear. Well done.

Geoff Coleman in reply to Matt Halls’s comment, 6 months ago

Thanks Matt for this lovely comment

Geoff Coleman in reply to chriso’s comment, 6 months ago

Thank you – I got to say it was very scary.

JPeele, 6 months ago

It was worth all of the effort.

SCPhotos, 6 months ago

Wow, what an amazing shot!!!!

Katja Fønss, 6 months ago

Wow that is a really amzing shot. I love the brilliant colours as well as the bolt.

Kathie Nichols, 6 months ago

Outstanding capture Geoff, sounds like it was quite an exciting night for you!

IslandImages, 6 months ago

stunning capture!

Kenneth Krolik..., 6 months ago

Absolutely stunning work.

Stephan Heiserman, 6 months ago

Great shot! Incredible colors.

dinghysailor1, 6 months ago

congratulation on this being chosen as the sescapes avater!! its still a huge favourite of mine and the recognition is so well deserved!! well done
:))

GINGER BARRITT, 5 months ago

I love storm captures, but this…is beyond anything I’ve seen. I’m just captivated. I wish I had the words that this makes me feel. I’m at a loss.

Geoff Coleman in reply to GINGER BARRITT’s comment, 5 months ago

Thanks Ginger – that is a particularly lovely comment – much appreciated.

Geoff Coleman in reply to dinghysailor1’s comment, 5 months ago

Thanks my friend – much appreciated.

PinkLady, 5 months ago

This is an absolutely stunning shot. The timing was perfect. Everything about it is amazing. Very well done! :-o :D

Bailey Sampson, 5 months ago

Powerful…awesome colors, brilliant composition. I love storms. The turbulent waters…moody….excellent.

Alex Young, 5 months ago

It’s all been said, Stunning!!!

ScottH711, 4 months ago

Amazing shot. It has a surreal feel to it. The colors are awesome…..again,Amazing!!

Helen Bascom, 4 months ago

Outstanding capture.

Christina Vasi..., 4 months ago

this is an amazing image! do you leave the shutter open and then close it after thelightning hits? im curious to take photographs of lightning…it fascinates me!

Geoff Coleman in reply to Christina Vasilakis’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks for your lovely comments Christina. You just point the camera toward where the lightning is happening and then continuously take 15 or 30 second exposures. I find it is better to use wide angle as you can crop close to the lightning afterwards but it lets you capture more bolts. Good luck.

Nancy Fischer, 3 months ago

This takes my breath away.

salsbells69, 3 months ago

..gobsmacked…lol..Excellent..

Sylvia Tax, 3 months ago

Wow !

Craig Watson, 3 months ago

Great shot Geoff… persitance has paid off! Certainly can be a frustrating time trying to capture such a good photo like this. You have done well!

ma9rk, 3 months ago

Stunning… simply stunning !

LoreLeft27, 3 months ago

how beautiful this is awesome i love how it branches off and it also perfectly placed

kcranmer, 3 months ago

This is by far an excellent shot and woooow I love the color picked up here, amazing shot!

Amanda Zalewski, 2 months ago

great image! the name fits it well.

Gideon Swart, 2 months ago

yeah geoff i dont know what to say.you are the master!!
perfect and im glad you stuck out your neck for this one so that we can enjoy it.thanks.its brilliant work.

Vonnie Murfin, 2 months ago

What an amazing shot!!

mausue, about 1 month ago

Amazing sight captured so wonderfully. Great work :)

Barnesy, about 1 month ago

another amazing shot…great stuff geoff

Marny Barnes, about 1 month ago

I HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY AND INSPIRATION IN THE FIVE MINUTES OF LOOKING THRU YOUR WORK THAN I HAVE IN A VERY LONG TIME

Geoff Coleman in reply to Marny Barnes’s comment, about 1 month ago

OMG Marney what a beautiful comment – you’ve really made my day – thanks heaps.

Mary Campbell, about 1 month ago

Wow, what a story and shot.. You’re alot braver than me.. You do excellent work.

Geoff Coleman in reply to Mary Campbell’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thanks Mary – glad you like it.

Holly Werner, about 1 month ago

Stunning image. Love it.

Anne-Marie Lad..., about 1 month ago

This is just awesome, Geoff – ALL of this series is simply stunning!! Dramatic composition, wonderful deep colours – fantastic capture! Love your story too!

Joanne A. Bradley, about 1 month ago

Powerful!

Geoff Coleman in reply to Anne-Marie Ladegaard’s comment, 29 days ago

Thanks annemarie – very much appreciate your feedback

Heloisa Castro, 28 days ago

excellent work

Kristin Hamm, 25 days ago

This is stunning! What an amazing shot- glad you took the risk and it turned out okay! : )

NewAgeVisionz, 23 days ago

Tremendous capture…

Jennifer Prome..., 22 days ago

fantastic capture!!

Sheri Scherbarth, 21 days ago

Great capture, a beautiful picture.

angiejones, 18 days ago

Wow – I just love lightning and this is a great shot.

Vonnie Murfin, 11 days ago

Great image!!

Harlan Mayor, 11 days ago

Awesome (and Scary) Capture! Great Work!

DawsonImages, 6 days ago

Spectacular capture