For many many years now I have chased images of storms, weather events, landscapes. The world about us is quite spectacular at times. The seasons turn, the colours change, the shadows lengthen. Every where I go I see the world in little rectangles of light and colour. This is where my weather obsession has its roots I think. Trying to understand the atmosphere even a little bit, because when its happening in the air about us, its likely going to be happening on the image front as well. So when the chatter amongst the local “weather geek” community in the second week of September turned to storms naturally my “focus” is heightened. (that’s a terrible pun sorry)

The forecast charts showed significant potential for decent storms to form, predominantly mid north, Eyre Peninsula and later east of the ranges. As is often the case the metro and sth ranges and fleurieu were not really expected to see to much. And so on Friday the 13th storms did indeed form east of the ranges. Not really expected in any signifcance that day, but they were certainly possible. They were quite convective in nature yet not widespread but fickle in location. Nevertheless some big 25mm plus falls, thunder, lightning and small hail were reported.

But it was Sunday the 15th that had the interest. Storms were expected to form over northern Eyre Peninsula and move over mid north before hitting east of the ranges in perfect time to be photogenic. The sth was not expected to see much. All the charts pointed towards that scenario. I (and others) were all packed up, cameras charged and ready to go. Well, by mid arvo it was looking like a monumental flop! The skies were empty! I had stayed put with some morning jobs to do and decided to can a long drive for what looked like nothing. But as the sun began its descent some altocumulus popped up. This is a sign of instability. But it was south! hhmmmmm. As fast as you could say “FLANG” the sky destabilised and filled in and bang! A cell popped up in the gulf just off of the southern suburbs. South! Against all forecasts. My gut told me to get QUICK to a high point and so I raced to my hilltop. A “big” 400 metre drive, and not the 200+km drive I had originally planned. This turned out to be one of the best decisions of my storm chasing life. The atmosphere was hugely unstable and developing and swirling in real time vision. They started dropping bolts just on sunset in perfect photogenic timing. I snagged some beautiful clear bolts and was feeling pretty happy with myself. Then… It all turned simply AWESOME.

This is the story…
I was watching this cell approach my place and was shooting at about 50mm focal length. A nice safe focal length. A convergence/instability jet shot out in front of the main cell directly overhead VERY fast and flashed some intra-cloud lightning over the top of where I was taking pics on the hill at home.
This was very unstable and very fast in development. I had seen it before and I had a gut feeling that something may happen closer than the 50mm focal length I was shooting at. So on that feeling I widened the view to 20mm on the lens (pretty big field of view) opened the shutter and went and sat in the car. This was another gut feeling. These “feelings” have served me well over the years and I just knew the car was the safe place to be. I was on top of a hill with nothing much higher, a metal car and a metal tripod you see, a lightning rod if ever there was one!
2 massive bolts suddenly crashed down middle of my view approx a km away about 10, maybe 15 seconds after opening the shutter and I thought HOLY ****! The landscape was flooded with blue purple light followed by immediate thunder.

That was close…

Time goes into slow mode and what follows happened in less than 30 seconds.

I got an uncomfortable feeling (another gut feeling) and was worried about the camera as I already had some nice shots on the memory card I did not want damaged or lost, not to mention what I knew had just been captured. I knew this was a risk but hopped out of the car (was 4 steps to the camera so not far) and the second I stepped out with both feet on the ground – CRACK FRIGGIN BANG CRACKLE BOOM the world exploded around me in white temporarily blowing out everything in front of me, my eyes could not adjust quick enough to the blazing light and the atmosphere was, unsurprisingly “electric” with instant explosive thunder of the type that shudders you to the core.
Adrenaline flooded my every cell instantly as whatever that was, was SUPER close. I “ran” to the cam, closed the shutter and took it and me to the car ASAP.
Bolts continued to rain down all around me incredibly close and I kept thinking man, what sort of pics am I missing here. But was just too dangerous to leave the car and the risk was too great of losing everything on the camera AND, (my wife would say most importantly) “me”!
I then remembered my camera which I was holding all this time and when I looked at the screen I could not believe it. Strikes on the ground ranging from 400 metres away to about a km. The ground strikes throwing shadows of the trees they struck amongst! The whole frame was filled with the most beautiful bolts I have seen. It was the picture of my life, the best I have done. I was one very very happy camper.

Going to be hard to top this!

And here it is that picture in question along with a close up crop of the closest bolt. Hows about that fence post heh?

And here is a few more taken from that evening..