Incredible Lightning Shot

[Saul Trabal]

Go here:

Weather Underground Lightning Animation (http://www.weatherunderground.com/wximage/viewsingleimage.html?mode=singleimage&handle=RevBE&number=326&album_id=180&thumbstart=0&gallery=CURRWEATHER#slideanchor)

The photographer compiled the different photos to create this.

:blink: :blink: :blink:

[Brian Emfinger]

ive had a few of those...heres one

http://realclearwx.com/images/25eee.jpg

[Jeff Snyder]

I think it may be legit, but it may also be an optical / camera issue. For whatever reason, the frame before a very bright lightning strike can look a little wierd... I've captured bright lightning strikes on video, and I've sometimes noticed that there's a copy of the strike/bolt, but more faint and at a different location, before the actual ightning bolt that is capture in the video. For example, I'd see a very bright lightning bolt on a frame in the video (well, it's progressive video, but...). At times, I can back one frame, and I'd see the exact same bolt (the shape and features are identical), but much more faint at a different location (e.g. in front of my dash, etc -- so I know it's not a leader).

I think we've discussed this in a past, but I'm not sure where the thread is. If I could find the power cable to external hard drive, I'd pull a frame for an example. Not saying that is the same here, but just beware that it may be an artifact of the camera/camcorder (not sure how it works, but I've seen it before!).

EDIT: LOL Looks like I beat Adam's post below by several seconds... At any rate, we're thinking the same thing I see...

[Adam Ball]

The photographer stated that he thought it was a streamer between him and a tree. It looks more to me like it was a reflection of the main bolt within the lens of the camera. I've seen this quite a few times while looking through video of storms.

Either way it's still a pretty cool shot.

[Saul Trabal]

The photographer stated that he thought it was a streamer between him and a tree. It looks more to me like it was a reflection of the main bolt within the lens of the camera. I've seen this quite a few times while looking through video of storms.

Either way it's still a pretty cool shot.
[/b]

Really? :blink: You think it's a reflection in the lens? I ask this because the bottom portion of the bolt seems to thread into and out of the tree! :blink:

:huh:

[Jeff Snyder]

Really? :blink: You think it's a reflection in the lens? I ask this because the bottom portion of the bolt seems to thread into and out of the tree! :blink:

:huh:
[/b]

If this is from a video, then you really need to see the frame immediately before AND after that image. I've had this reflection or artifact error before, and I know others have as well (including Adam obviously). I haven't figured it out yet, since it happens (in my cases at least) in the frame BEFORE the lightning shot. The bolts in my shots are identical, however, just in a different part of the frame.

[Dan Robinson]

I put together an article about this a couple of years ago.

http://wvlightning.com/videoghost.shtml

[Brian Emfinger]

I put together an article about this a couple of years ago.

http://wvlightning.com/videoghost.shtml
[/b]
i had wondered if it had something to do with a camera/lens issue but shrugged it off since it didnt happen everytime or even most of the time. i will doublecheck a few of them that were seemingly close but i think your descripition of this is probably right on. thanks!

[Susan Strom]

Leader meets lens effect. The leader is there accompanied by mirror image/same shape reflective ghost. Still a neato image.

[David Schuttler]

Best effects I've had of these from last year
http://stormdriven.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/060405ok10.jpg

http://stormdriven.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/0703200545.jpg