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

Brian Barnes StormChase.com

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!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check out my company, StormTours.com. 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.stormtours.com AND www.stormchase.com

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

Lightning and Storms Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

Lightning Strike in the Great Plains (Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA) by Brian Barnes StormChase.com
Lightning Strike in the Great Plains (Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA) by Brian Barnes StormChase.com
  • Jana

    Jana

    all i can say is wow. what a breth taking image! love it

  • louise

    louise

    WOW! a very dramatic image

    Well done!!

  • jess

    jess

    this is amazing. how do you capture something that happens so fast! great job.

  • Roddy Atkinson

    Roddy Atkinson

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

  • Christiaan

    Christiaan

    Congratulations :) And a very nice photo!

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    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

    David Stuart

    Great strike and capture ..brilliant

    Straight into the favourites !!

  • wanda blake

    wanda blake

    this is beautiful!

  • funkyfacestudio

    funkyfacestudio

    OMG, perfect timing and a fabulous shot,love the colors.

  • Jessica  Tremp

    Jessica Tremp

    brilliant, so vibrant and alive

  • Sue Nueckel

    Sue Nueckel

    This is an amzing capture! WOW

  • markhiggins

    markhiggins

    wow, nice and dramatic and the colours
    are brilliant. Nice job.

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com
  • Helene Kippert

    Helene Kippert

    Gorgeous colours – great capture!

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    thanks Helene. -Brian

  • peter

    peterworks here

    Brialliant capture Brian!

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thanks Peter ~Brian

  • birdinsun

    birdinsun

    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 StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    lol. I can handle all the “wow”s that people can wow out! Thanks birdinsun! I appreciate the comment.

  • Phil Eckert

    Phil Eckert

    WOW, yes… this is a great shot !!!

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thanks Phil.

  • Halcyon007

    Halcyon007

    Great shot – Love it

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thank you Stuart.

  • Mardynn

    Mardynn

    I love this. Very good work.

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thanks for the comment Mardynn.

  • snoopytas

    snoopytas

    know its been done before, but its true -WOW!

  • Michael Humphrys

    Michael Humphrys

    That shot is awesome

  • StacyLee

    StacyLee

    It’s the perfect shot :)

  • Luka Skracic

    Luka Skracic

    This is incredible, a shot i would kill for to have taken!

  • Neil Boucher

    Neil Boucher

    WOW!!!!!!!

  • Melinda Kerr

    Melinda Kerr

    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

    Phillip Cooper

    nice colours

  • Eon Woolston

    Eon WoolstonGreeter

    WOW!! Thats a fantastic shot!

  • rock

    rock

    This is the best I have ever seen, congratulations Brian Regards, Ronald

  • lizzy

    lizzy

    Just amazing – and the depth of colour is incredible!

  • bearhat

    bearhat

    Amazing shot. Reminds me of the cover of Neil Gaiman’s novel, American Gods.

  • skippy

    skippy

    What a picture! Really vivid!

  • Nicole Goggins

    Nicole Goggins

    wow – gr8 capture! sensational colours too…

  • Michael Cuneo

    Michael Cuneo

    Holy crap nice!

  • Matthew Setright

    Matthew Setright

    You Have really been right place right time, Great depth.

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

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

  • PaulBradley

    PaulBradley

    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

    pauldrobertson

    fantastic shot

  • Jeff  Burns

    Jeff Burns

    Simply amazing shot Brian. Wow. Love it

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thanks Jeff! And there are a few Pauls in there to thank as well.

  • lanced200

    lanced200

    Would make a fantsic CD cover

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thanks Lance!

  • tonilouise

    tonilouise

    Another wow from me Brian. Superb, instant favourite

  • Jenny Haskey

    Jenny Haskey

    Breathtakingly superb – yup, it’s another wow!!!

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    thanks Jenny.

  • Holly Werner

    Holly Werner

    Wow Great color! Very dramatic. Well Done.

  • Deborah Fuller

    Deborah Fuller

    I love this pic. I agree I’m adicted to RedBubble too. talk about split second photo.

  • TonyLegg

    TonyLegg

    A storm chaser …. Excellent !! Great image !!!

  • Popular Mr

    Popular Mr

    This is really good. I wonder what its like to be a storm chaser? Would like to try

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Hi Daijiro – want to try storm chasing? I got a fix for you – www.violentskiestours.com. ;-) Thanks for the kind comments!

  • Steven Slusher

    Steven Slusher

    I enjoy this very much. the colors are so vivid. Nicely done.

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thanks Steven.

  • German Saravanja

    German Saravanja

    Great capture! What an experience it must have been!

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thank you German – lightning photography is ALWAYS an “experience”!

  • Biswajit Pandey

    Biswajit Pandey

    Brilliant capture.

  • jerry  alcantara

    jerry alcantara

    wonderful shot,good job!

  • bigbizarre

    bigbizarre

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

  • bigbizarre

    bigbizarre

    Have a Very Merry Christmas And a Happy New Productive, Artistic, Inspired New Year!!! Great Work!!

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thanks Big, Jerry and Pandey!

  • BeckyJean

    BeckyJean

    awesome capture :)

  • Paul Hamilton Photography

    Paul Hamilton ...

    fantastic shot

  • John Armstrong-Millar

    John Armstrong...

    pretty cool

  • Kathleen Hill

    Kathleen Hill

    Amazing and even better off centre

  • frozenfa

    frozenfa

    WOW!! that’s amazing… Great shot!! =D

  • dimarie

    dimarie

    beautiful!
    what an amazing experience to capture!
    well done!

  • Peace Mitchell

    Peace Mitchell

    what a fabulous shot congratualtions!

  • midzing

    midzing

    awesome capture

  • Irish

    Irish

    Love This!

  • Kirk  Hille

    Kirk Hille

    Stunning shot

  • Luke Jones

    Luke Jones

    Amazing and beautiful,the rewards of patient photography….

  • PPPhotoArt

    PPPhotoArt

    Well your chasing was totally worth it, amazing!!!!!!!

  • KatrinaArt

    KatrinaArt

    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

    JanG

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

  • micmac

    micmac

    Amazing moment ,unreal ,beautiful shot …congrats for the home page.

  • Iani

    Iani

    cracking shot excuse the pun

  • mimi yoon

    mimi yoon

    matches your eyes~ : ) beautiful image

  • N♥RIN    ISM♥IL

    N♥RIN ISM♥IL

    this just..

    s
    t
    u
    n
    n
    i
    n
    g
    and
    b
    e
    a
    u
    t
    i
    f
    u
    l

    well done

  • Lim-Lim Andonovic
  • sticky

    sticky

    oh my …............... this is so totally fantastic.

  • Koofer44

    Koofer44

    You’re a very lucky person!

  • paulywog1561

    paulywog1561

    A one in a million capture!

  • Nikki Mulkern

    Nikki Mulkern

    Wow!!! this is perfect!!!! WOW!!

  • berndt2

    berndt2

    Glorious colours and fantastically framed. Beautiful!

  • Jonicool

    Jonicool

    Amazing capture!!

  • James Rutherford

    James Rutherford

    Lovely shot. Lighning photography always makes me gasp. Just how is it done? I’d love to do it!

  • Michael  Bermingham

    Michael Bermi...

    Awesome Capture Brian!!!
    Indeed you should be proud of it…

  • Jay Ryser

    Jay Ryser

    Wow – stunning shot

  • Kim Roper

    Kim Roper

    Brilliant capture – right time right place!

  • Crystal Zacharias

    Crystal Zacharias

    great job. This photo reminds me of the logo in the beginning of some movies.

  • FelicityB

    FelicityB

    A 1 in 10 million shot! Fantastic.

  • sayeeth

    sayeeth

    awesome capture! yeah like what crystal zacharia said, it’s like from some movie company logo

  • Marc McDonald

    Marc McDonald

    Absolutely perfect! Color, composition, subject, timing, exposure….all great! Well done!

  • Joshua Reyna

    Joshua Reyna

    are you kidding me??? fucking amazing this photo is…. A mazing. lol

  • Gaurav Dhup
  • dinghysailor1

    dinghysailor1

    awesome work!

  • MaryK

    MaryK

    Way cool!

  • Jen Arthur

    Jen Arthur

    Amazing colors. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.

  • solareclips~Julie  Alexander

    solareclips~Ju...

    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

    Stacy Rodriguez

    Beautiful shot, Waiting for what you want is worth it, Great capture.

  • Leslie Patton

    Leslie Patton

    Awesome capture. Great timing. Love the colors. Nice work!

  • Kristie King

    Kristie King

    This is an amazing image!! Congrats on being on the front page.

  • JudithE

    JudithE

    What a wonderful capture,,Kudos !! great job :)

  • Kaylene B

    Kaylene B

    very well done

  • coffeebean

    coffeebean

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

  • Lucindawind

    Lucindawind

    fabulous!

  • Matt Merritt

    Matt Merritt

    Great photo! I see you like taking awesome lightning shots too!

  • vonne

    vonne

    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

    Ryan Wright

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

  • steen

    steen

    awesome shot

  • ma9rk

    ma9rk

    Stunning…should be an album cover.

  • Tania Rose

    Tania Rose

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

  • estrada

    estrada

    Wow! Amazing picture!

  • Heather  Rivet  IPA
  • AndrewBentley

    AndrewBentley

    Fantastic love the colours

  • deClare

    deClare

    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

    screamqueen

    very gorgeous!

  • Jen Cannella

    Jen Cannella

    Wow, absolutely brilliant capture!

  • MKWhite

    MKWhite

    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

    kodakcameragirl

    Awesome! Great Work!

  • tigerwings

    tigerwings

    This is just Awesome…Great Photo!

  • studom

    studom

    Beautiful and awe inspiring image. Beautiful colours too :)

  • PennyEdwardes

    PennyEdwardes

    I’m speechless…this is incredible! Fantastic shot!

  • TaGiRoCkS

    TaGiRoCkS

    this is absolutely amazing
    the colours and the lightning striking the road in the distance.
    mind blowing shot.
    keep it up

  • Sema

    Sema

    Amazing!

  • linda858100

    linda858100

    STUNNING

  • Angel Warda

    Angel Warda

    wow…this is stunning!!!!

  • Daniel Rayfield

    Daniel Rayfieldcommunity host

    This is soooo amazing!!!!!

  • Scott  d'Almeida

    Scott d'Almeida

    awesome;

  • MattGranz

    MattGranz

    How can you frame a lightning strike better than this??? Unreal…. solidly unreal…

  • Laurie Search

    Laurie Search

    This is amazing!!!!

  • ambient-1

    ambient-1

    Amazing capture!

  • Heather Caye

    Heather Caye

    I love this shot so much. Great job :)

  • Crystal Arnold

    Crystal Arnold

    This is awesome

  • schizomania

    schizomania

    wowie zowie beautiful

  • Rany Lutz

    Rany Lutz

    Super shot!!!

  • Denis Molodkin

    Denis Molodkin

    Brilliant work!

  • Kenart

    Kenart

    A simply stunning image. I like the way you used the single point perspective on the road to assist the composition.

  • Brian Barnes StormChase.com

    Brian Barnes S...

    Thanks all! I just picked up a D500 and it’s made me think – “I really don’t like digital photography that much”. Why you ask? (you did ask – right?). Because for example I shot this photo with a Nikon D70s and every year I get a camera capable of bigger and better things with better quality and I want to go back and re-shoot all the photos I’ve taken with DSLRs of the past. We never had this dilemma with film, unless it was “Velvia or Provia”... Know what I mean?

  • bonnierocks

    bonnierocks

    how perfect!

  • ellamental

    ellamental

    far-out!!!!

  • Troy W. Smith

    Troy W. Smith

    WOW! What an amazing shot. Just awesome.

  • 3XEternity
  • Shelley Warbrooke

    Shelley Warbrooke

    Amazing Brian, this is just a fantastic shot!

  • Barbara  Brown

    Barbara Brown

    Fabulous!!

  • Daniel J. McCauley IV

    Daniel J. McCa...

    Gorgeous capture, Brian! Would be great addition to the Extreme Weather Group. Brilliant work!

  • gemini63

    gemini63

    A vibrant image amazing capture of a moment :)

  • Paul Manning

    Paul Manning

    amazing stunning image! cheers Paul

  • Lisawv

    Lisawv

    Awesome capture and great work. Outstanding composition and dof.

  • Kenny Gulley Jr.

    Kenny Gulley Jr. 16 days ago

    a.m.a.z.i.n.g.

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