Catching Lightning

Thursday's sheet lightning

 

Hey folks,

As many of you might know, Victoria got HOT last week. I've been simmering through five days of soaring temperatures, which bottomed out at 29 degrees during the coldest hours of the night. We had a relatively cool start on Monday, at only 36 degrees, then the mercury began to climb. It didn't cool down until Friday afternoon, when 44 degrees became 30; the cool change blew in about 6pm and we were all relieved.

Still, I actually really enjoyed the week. The scorched ground seemed so Australian, and even though we were worried about the fires springing up around us, it was a great show of humanity, with hundreds of volunteers stepping up to support the CFA and helping to protect people's homes.

Bush fires out here can be started so easily. In my opinion, the most common cause is as simple as flicking a cigarette butt out the window; even though we're on a total fire ban, people still smoke in their cars. When the grass is nothing more than hay, it only takes one spark to set the fields alight.

Another cause became apparent most nights last week; dry lightning. As dusk drew in, we started to hear distant rumbles of thunder, and we watched the clouds stumble over each other to crowd the evening sky. At first, there was only sheet lightning, staining the clouds purple and lighting up the sky. Then, over the hills, the forks lit up. The first night, we just watched and listened, and felt the thunder shake the house. But on Thursday evening, I ventured outside with my camera.

Several years ago, a flash storm in Greece struck up one night while we were eating dinner. It was the first year I'd had an SLR, and I was lucky enough to capture a Rip in the Sky, featured here. Since then, I've never had my camera on hand during lightning shows, so I've never been able to confirm whether it was talent or sheer luck that caught that image. So on Thursday, I stood outside, watching two spots in the sky for lightning.

After thirty minutes of holding up my camera, my arms were aching and I was getting pretty frustrated. I'd caught two mediocre flashes of sheet lightning - nothing to brag about - and I decided to give up and go inside. Five minutes after I sat down, however, the sky began to light up with electricity. I grabbed my camera and ran back outside.

I'm so glad I did; my second attempt proved more fruitful, if not bountiful, and I was ecstatic to capture this beautiful bolt across the big Australian sky.

Lucky Catch

I am now able to conclude that catching lightning is hard work, it hurts your arms, gets your feet wet when the heavens open and makes you paranoid about getting electrocuted!

Last week, despite the heat and the worry about bush fires, was great. I'm proud of my photo, even if it's not perfect, and it's nice that things have cooled down a little now! Victoria is exhausted and a little charred, but the CFA have worked tirelessly and quickly and saved as many people's homes as they could, so they have my heartfelt gratitude.

Stay cool, everyone, and I'll be back soon,

Em