Lightning Strike a little too close

[bloodhound31]

Standing out in the rain last night capturing a timed sequence on a string of thunderstorms passing over us.

When the blast wave from a lightning hit me the instant it flashed, I didn't realise just how much my camera had captured. The bolt was directly above me.

It felt like pulling the trigger on a shotgun in a confined space.

I was charged to the point where the hairs all over me were on end then gradually subsided. I have been buzzing for hours since.

Here you can see the same photograph, with the exposure levels turned down in the digital editing program, revealing the bolt in all that over saturated brightness.

[bojan]

And camera survived :eyepop:

Both camera and yourself were lucky :thumbsup:

[bloodhound31]

Yeah, I was wondering about EMP with the camera going, but it didn't miss a beat. My heart felt like it missed a few though..

[Wavytone]

Evidently your definition of "lucky" is a bit different from mine...

Being lucky (like winning Lotto) is something that inspires you to try to repeat what you did, again.

Don't think I'd do that again...

[bloodhound31]

I'll go along with that. There's a big difference between just existing and really living!

[bloodhound31]

I would.:thumbsup:

[telemarker]

Ha Ha!! Impressive. :thumbsup: Did you have to change undies after that? :D

[bloodhound31]

Nearly...:ashamed:

[DavidU]

Glad your ok Baz.
But crikey that is a rare photo !!!!

[bloodhound31]

Thanks David. I took on a new years resolution this year, that I would take more risks. As a result I have been getting a lot more "Rare" opportunities.

It was a calculated risk though. There were taller things around than me and many more choices for lightning to find ground before it got to me.

I've done it before and I will do it again. If God sees to take me away with a bolt of lightning, then so be it.:thumbsup:

Baz.

[DavidTrap]

When one finds out that the true colour of adrenaline is brown!

DT

[Tilt]

Wow, close one Barry!

[multiweb]

Well if it is true that lightning never hit the same spot twice then you can do it again. Just mark the ground with a big white X and you'll be right. ;)

[Kevnool]

Geez that was close Baz was you hair standing straight up?
Cheers Kev.

[bloodhound31]

It was certainly thinking about it mate. :)

[bloodhound31]

Ideas man Marc!

[sheeny]

Oh yeah!

I had a similar experience once, photographing lightning from under the back awning... Instantaneous flash and huge noise which made me spontaneously say bad things!:lol: Scary as all hell, but I was videoing with the Oly C5060 at the time and playing it back was hilarious! The picture simply saturated, but so did the video sound (the bang started, then went instantly silent, then sound came back as the noise faded to record my swearing...:lol:). I can laugh about it now.

Al.

[multiweb]

We're joking about it now but seriously you have to realise you were extremely lucky. People get killed before and after a storm. If you can hear it then you're in the danger zone and you're at risk so you should stay indoors.

[lacad01]

How were your ears after that? Amazing that neither you nor equipment got damaged :eyepop:

[bloodhound31]

Thanks mate. I know you were joking, just in case anyone thinks I am going to go out and mark an X where the lightning hit....:screwy:

[bloodhound31]

I'm ex-army mate, I am used to things that go bang. :thumbsup:

[M54]

Glad you're ok Barry!
But there is another take on your statement above...

There's a bigger difference between just existing and really dying!

Be careful Baz!!!:sadeyes:

P.S. The shots are amazing. Couldn't you rig up a remote control device and let the camera take the risks? You could stay safely indoors?:shrug:

[bloodhound31]

Hey thanks for all your concerns everyone! It truly is a lovely and caring community here on IIS. I will continue to take calculated risks as it is my nature to experience life rathere than simply to survive, BUT....I will be careful ok?

Bless ya's all!

Baz.

[DavidU]

I got hit when I was about 9 or 10, ended up in hospital. It felt like being hit by a truck.
Baz, are these pix taken at your home?

[bloodhound31]

Do you have any super powers Dave? Wow, can you elaborate on the sensations? I am very interested and curious.

Yes mate, that's my observatory at the bottom right of the pic.

Baz.

[DavidU]

My super power is finding ways to loose money:lol:
I was very young walking home from school and was in a shopping strip when a blinding flash and a huge noise seemed to throw me a couple of meters. I must have been KO'd for a few seconds and was aware of adults milling around me.It seems the lightening hit a sign or awning a few feet from me so I think I copped it through my feet rather than a direct hit (as they found no burn marks) I developed a major headache and was put on pain killers. I remember they were monitoring me for heart irregularities.
I suffered muscle pain for a few days.It made a small article in the news paper.NOT fun at all.:eyepop: I also seem to remember peoples hair standing up on end not long before the strike.

[Ric]

Amazing shots Baz but that's waaaaay too close.

[Analog6]

Holy Toledo!