Lightning Strike in the Great Plains (Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA)

Artist: Brian Barnes
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Card: US$3.42
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Lightning Strike in the Great Plains (Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA)

Often the storm chasing day ends not with the last glow of the setting sun, but with a photogenic show of pyrotechnics dancing from cloud to cloud and into the ground and lasting well into the night. This strike was captured just a few miles from my home after a long day of driving and looking for marvelous supercells and their awe-inspiring structures.

Typically, any isolated cells that form during the day in western Oklahoma will race through the portions of Oklahoma that I call home, I just have to drive back ahead of the racing squall line and on such days will end the hunt with a tripod and a camera on this gravel road.

It isn’t a part of my public offered storm chasing tours, but instead just my time to relax, snap shutters and enjoy my favorite hobby – lightning photography. I’ve always hoped for a dead centered strike at the end of this long gravel driveway. So many times I have closed my eyes and envisioned this very shot.

Then, one night in 2006 after a long day’s work of hunting down tornadoes I ended my chase day in this fashion, opened the shutter and waited – “bang” – I had it!

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Be sure to check out my company, Violent Skies we offer Storm Chasing Tours! It’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants to chase storms to improve their lightning photography skills and see awe-inspiring photogenic storms.

www.violentskiestours.com

Lightning Strike in the Great Plains (Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA) belongs to the following groups:

Gaia - The Living Planet and Lightning and Storms

Jana, about 1 year ago

all i can say is wow. what a breth taking image! love it
louise, about 1 year ago

WOW! a very dramatic image

Well done!!
jess, about 1 year ago

this is amazing. how do you capture something that happens so fast! great job.
Roddy Atkinson, about 1 year ago

Great photo Brian, could be an album cover! Storm chasing company…. how cool is that, any jobs going? lol
Christiaan, about 1 year ago

Congratulations :) And a very nice photo!
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

I have hundreds, if not thousands of lightning photos that I’ve taken over the past 15 years. Most of the time I take them after dark so that I can leave the shutter open for as long as 30 seconds without worrying about overexposing the film (or sensor). This image however was taken during the evening hours while it was still daylight. Lightning was hitting the ground in front me of, so I setup the camera and starting snapping away just hoping I would be lucky enough to get one strike captured… I never really expected it to be dead-center in the frame like this though. I think I snapped over 1000 images in just a few minutes hoping for this shot. Out of all my lightning photographs, this is by far my favorite and I doubt I will be able to really “out do” this shot. But, I’ll never get tired of lightning photography! Thanks for all your kind comments.
David Stuart, about 1 year ago

Great strike and capture ..brilliant

Straight into the favourites !!
wanda blake, about 1 year ago

this is beautiful!
funkyfacestudio, about 1 year ago

OMG, perfect timing and a fabulous shot,love the colors.
Jessica Tremp, about 1 year ago

brilliant, so vibrant and alive
Sue Nueckel, about 1 year ago

This is an amzing capture! WOW
Mark Higgins, about 1 year ago

wow, nice and dramatic and the colours
are brilliant. Nice job.
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

thanks.
Helene Kippert, about 1 year ago

Gorgeous colours – great capture!
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

thanks Helene. -Brian
peter, about 1 year ago

Brialliant capture Brian!
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Thanks Peter ~Brian
birdinsun, about 1 year ago

Can you stand one more “wow”? You can? OK – WOW!!!!!!!!!!! This is an incredible photo. And the story of how you captured this shot – well, it’s the existence of a photographer, eh? Shoot a ton of photos and hope for the perfect one. But when you get it, aint it grand? THIS photo is grand!
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

lol. I can handle all the “wow”s that people can wow out! Thanks birdinsun! I appreciate the comment.
Phil Eckert, about 1 year ago

WOW, yes… this is a great shot !!!
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Thanks Phil.
Halcyon007, about 1 year ago

Great shot – Love it
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Thank you Stuart.
Mardynn, about 1 year ago

I love this. Very good work.
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Thanks for the comment Mardynn.
snoopytas, about 1 year ago

know its been done before, but its true -WOW!
Michael Humphrys, about 1 year ago

That shot is awesome
StacyLee, about 1 year ago

It’s the perfect shot :)
Luka Skracic, about 1 year ago

This is incredible, a shot i would kill for to have taken!
Neil Boucher, about 1 year ago

WOW!!!!!!!
Melinda Kerr, about 1 year ago

Gosh Brian how fantastic! My twin brother lives in Colorado Springs and I remember the amazing storms that would come in in the evening. He would be so jealous of your storm chasing! I think I am too!
Phillip Cooper, about 1 year ago

nice colours
EOS20, about 1 year ago

WOW!! Thats a fantastic shot!
rock, about 1 year ago

This is the best I have ever seen, congratulations Brian Regards, Ronald
Susan Trigg, about 1 year ago

Just amazing – and the depth of colour is incredible!
bearhat, about 1 year ago

Amazing shot. Reminds me of the cover of Neil Gaiman’s novel, American Gods.
skippy, about 1 year ago

What a picture! Really vivid!
Nicole Goggins, about 1 year ago

wow – gr8 capture! sensational colours too…
Michael Cuneo, about 1 year ago

Holy crap nice!
Matthew Setright, about 1 year ago

You Have really been right place right time, Great depth.
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

I’m stunned ~ And, I greatly appreciate all the comments! Now, if only I could find a royalty deal for the image. ;-) Thanks!
PaulBradley, about 1 year ago

Great capture, I was sure there would be some PS in here! Reminds me of the Jerry Bruckheimer logo (I think it’s his …. ?).
pauldrobertson, about 1 year ago

fantastic shot
Jeff Burns, about 1 year ago

Simply amazing shot Brian. Wow. Love it
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Thanks Jeff! And there are a few Pauls in there to thank as well.
lanced200, about 1 year ago

Would make a fantsic CD cover
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Thanks Lance!
tonilouise, about 1 year ago

Another wow from me Brian. Superb, instant favourite
Jenny Haskey, about 1 year ago

Breathtakingly superb – yup, it’s another wow!!!
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

thanks Jenny.
Holly Werner, about 1 year ago

Wow Great color! Very dramatic. Well Done.
Deborah Fuller, about 1 year ago

I love this pic. I agree I’m adicted to RedBubble too. talk about split second photo.
TonyLegg, about 1 year ago

A storm chaser …. Excellent !! Great image !!!
Popular Mr, about 1 year ago

This is really good. I wonder what its like to be a storm chaser? Would like to try
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Hi Daijiro – want to try storm chasing? I got a fix for you – www.violentskiestours.com. ;-) Thanks for the kind comments!
Steven Slusher, about 1 year ago

I enjoy this very much. the colors are so vivid. Nicely done.
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Thanks Steven.
German Saravanja, about 1 year ago

Great capture! What an experience it must have been!
Brian Barnes, about 1 year ago

Thank you German – lightning photography is ALWAYS an “experience”!
Biswajit Pandey, about 1 year ago

Brilliant capture.
jerry alcantara, about 1 year ago

wonderful shot,good job!
bigbizarre, 10 months ago

The whole picture is just one big amazing frame for that spectacularly timed lightning strike. Like it a lot!
bigbizarre, 9 months ago

Have a Very Merry Christmas And a Happy New Productive, Artistic, Inspired New Year!!! Great Work!!
Brian Barnes, 9 months ago

Thanks Big, Jerry and Pandey!
BeckyJean, 7 months ago

awesome capture :)
Paul Hamilton, 7 months ago

fantastic shot
John Armstrong..., 7 months ago

pretty cool
Kathleen Hill, 7 months ago

Amazing and even better off centre
frozenfa, 7 months ago

WOW!! that’s amazing… Great shot!! =D
dimarie, 7 months ago

beautiful!
what an amazing experience to capture!
well done!
Peace Mitchell, 7 months ago

what a fabulous shot congratualtions!
midzing, 7 months ago

awesome capture
Irish, 7 months ago

Love This!
Kirk Hille, 7 months ago

Stunning shot
Luke Jones, 7 months ago

Amazing and beautiful,the rewards of patient photography….
PPPhotoArt, 7 months ago

Well your chasing was totally worth it, amazing!!!!!!!
KatrinaArt, 7 months ago

So electric! Not only the capture of the lightening, but the blue tones in the photo are so vibrant. This shot is ALIVE! Very exciting and awe inspiring! Well done. :o)
JanG, 7 months ago

Fantastic shot! Love that you actually are out there taking people on storm-chasing tours! The light is just amazing.
micmac, 7 months ago

Amazing moment ,unreal ,beautiful shot …congrats for the home page.
Iani, 7 months ago

cracking shot excuse the pun
mimi yoon, 7 months ago

matches your eyes~ : ) beautiful image
N♥RIN ISM♥IL, 7 months ago

this just..

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well done
Lim-Lim Andonovic, 7 months ago

wow
sticky, 7 months ago

oh my …............... this is so totally fantastic.
Koofer44, 7 months ago

You’re a very lucky person!
paulywog1561, 7 months ago

A one in a million capture!
Nikki Mulkern, 7 months ago

Wow!!! this is perfect!!!! WOW!!
berndt2, 7 months ago

Glorious colours and fantastically framed. Beautiful!
Jonicool, 7 months ago

Amazing capture!!
JARutherford, 7 months ago

Lovely shot. Lighning photography always makes me gasp. Just how is it done? I’d love to do it!
Michael Bermi..., 6 months ago

Awesome Capture Brian!!!
Indeed you should be proud of it…
Jay Ryser, 6 months ago

Wow – stunning shot
Kim Roper, 6 months ago

Brilliant capture – right time right place!
Crystal Zacharias, 6 months ago

great job. This photo reminds me of the logo in the beginning of some movies.
FelicityB, 6 months ago

A 1 in 10 million shot! Fantastic.
sayeeth, 6 months ago

awesome capture! yeah like what crystal zacharia said, it’s like from some movie company logo
Marc McDonald, 6 months ago

Absolutely perfect! Color, composition, subject, timing, exposure….all great! Well done!
Joshua Reyna, 6 months ago

are you kidding me??? fucking amazing this photo is…. A mazing. lol
Gaurav Dhup, 6 months ago

WOW!
dinghysailor1, 5 months ago

awesome work!
MaryK, 5 months ago

Way cool!
Jen Arthur, 5 months ago

Amazing colors. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
solareclips, 5 months ago

Wonderful shot Brian!! The colors are just superb!! I’m glad that you were able to get your “dream shot!” Congrats on the front page!!
Stacy Rodriguez, 5 months ago

Beautiful shot, Waiting for what you want is worth it, Great capture.
Leslie Patton, 5 months ago

Awesome capture. Great timing. Love the colors. Nice work!
Kristie King, 5 months ago

This is an amazing image!! Congrats on being on the front page.
JudithE, 5 months ago

What a wonderful capture,,Kudos !! great job :)
kaylenelise, 5 months ago

very well done
coffeebean, 5 months ago

Magnificent capture, wow awesome colours and congratulations on being on the home page with this great photo.
Lucindawind, 5 months ago

fabulous!
Matt Merritt, 5 months ago

Great photo! I see you like taking awesome lightning shots too!
vonne, 5 months ago

WOW Brian you nailed this! AWESOME shot! well worth the wait! Sound like me I am in Oklahoma too and when there is a storm people will call and tell me watch the weather! I tell them watch hell I am taking photos of it lol I love the storms here. I dont think there are very many places with skies that talk quite so pretty and scary as Oklahoma’s!
Ryan Wright, 5 months ago

Yes, oh yes this is marvelous! I love lightning photography as well, take a look if you would like.
steen, 4 months ago

awesome shot
ma9rk, 3 months ago

Stunning…should be an album cover.
Tania Rose, 3 months ago

What an extraordinary image. I love your PP. Congrats that this one made it into PAX! (that’s how i found it)
estrada, 3 months ago

Wow! Amazing picture!
Heather Rivet..., 3 months ago

perfect
AndrewBentley, 3 months ago

Fantastic love the colours
deClare, 3 months ago

Fantastic Brian. Must make you feel alive when you see that coming down the road! We don’t get anything like that over here in the UK. Its kind of tame in comparison!
screamqueen, 3 months ago

very gorgeous!
Jen Cannella, 3 months ago

Wow, absolutely brilliant capture!
MKWhite, 2 months ago

Beautifully captured. I recently captured my first lightning bolt and fireworks in the same frame. It’s pretty exhillarating when it all comes together. :)
kodakcameragirl, 26 days ago

Awesome! Great Work!
tigerwings, 18 days ago

This is just Awesome…Great Photo!