Eloquent Images by Gary Hart
Insight, information, and inspiration for the inquisitive nature photographer
Days of Lightning Passed
So. Here I am, back from my Grand Canyon monsoon workshop, isolated at home with Covid. I usually return from these workshops, hit the ground running, and find myself longing for more time to process all my new lightning images. Ironic that the one time circumstances force me to slow down and lay low, providing tons of time to process my new lighting bounty, I have no new bounty to process. Alas, though this year’s was indeed a fantastic workshop with many beautiful sunrises and sunsets, we got no lightning. (During the workshop—those who stayed through the day following our wrap-up sunrise shoot got a nice lighting show.)
Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to go through images of past lightning that I never had time to process. I’m feeling better, but this week, rather than write a conventional blog, I’m just going to share three of my (hundreds of) previously unprocessed Grand Canyon lightning images, and the links to blog posts about those shoots.
Distant Lightning, Lipan Point, Grand Canyon South Rim
Sony a7RIV
Sony 24-105 G
1/4 second
F/8
ISO 200
The thing that stands out about this 2021 afternoon was the thunderhead that we could see in the distance for the entire 40 minute drive out to Lipan Point. I was afraid it would be spent by the time we got there, but this was a show that just didn’t want to end: What Would Michael Scott Do?
Inside Job, Inner Gorge Lightning, Grand Canyon North Rim
Sony a7RIV
Sony 24-105 G
1/4 second
F/8
ISO 250
Two days before capturing the preceding lightning image, the same 2021 monsoon group enjoyed a spectacular electrical display from the view decks adjacent to Grand Canyon Lodge (RIP) on the North Rim: Frozen in Time.
Incoming, Oza Butte Lightning Strike, Grand Canyon North Rim
Sony a7RIII
Sony 24-105 f/4 G
Breakthrough neutral polarizer
Lightning Trigger LT-IV
1/4 second
F/11
ISO 100
This lightning bolt landed just a mile away from my 2019 group’s perch on the Grand Canyon Lodge view decks. With safety just a few feet away, and shielded by lightning rods, many of us stayed out to enjoy the show. But less than five minutes later, we were all chased inside by an even closer strike: I Just Have to Share This.
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More Lightning
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Eloquent Images by Gary Hart 
The Lightening Web is GRAND!!!! All images are spectacular.
it is impossible to choose my favorite image. They’re all electrifying! Sorry, I had to…
Awesome 👌