Lightning Bolt Photos

Hi Everyone!

Today was a day of storms. We got another wonderful drenching by a monsoon line of thunderstorms coming in off the Rim area--about 4:00 p.m. it started. We got an hour’s worth of life-giving water....and so did the surrounding areas of Camp Verde and Cottonwood and Cornville, as well.

When the storms stopped, I went for a walk at 6:00 p.m. tonight with my trusty Nikon, my trusty Golden Retriever, Rocky, and my trusty white hefty garbage bag in case it started to rain on my camera.

There was a lot of lightning with these storms. As I walked up cardiac hill, there was bolt after bolt above Deer Mountain, which is at the top of the hill. So, I stopped and figured; why not? Well, I got a beauty as you can see below!

Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
This was taken as lightning arced over Deer Mountain, which is at the top of Cardiac Hill. Pretty cool!

Higher than a kite, I thought: maybe lightning can strike twice in the same place. Maybe I can get some more lighting bolt photos! I knew I’d never duplicate what I got a week ago--but now, I had bolt fever.

The storms were moving off to the southwest and the canyon walls were there so I knew I had to hot foot it up and out of the area and make it to Sunset Point where I could get a clean shot -- and a chance -- again -- to try for some great lightning photos.

We made it up to the Point and I first gave my red ant hill its offering of nuts--and they all swarmed over the food immediately. I think they know when I come because you can see them all peeking out of their holes waiting. And talk about swarming! These are red ants who love their nuts!

Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's the red ant hill up at Sunset Point. I like to bring them a gift when I go up there. Just a neighborly thing to do.

I got settled in on my favorite lava rock, with Rocky laying beside me. Now, you have to picture this and remember it’s still dropping rain around us. I don’t dare let my Nikon get wet. So, I pull out my trusty white garbage bag and put it over the top of my head, over the bill of my baseball cap I’m wearing and bring the camera under the plastic. The only part of the camera that’s exposed is the end of it and the lens.

Lucky for me, there was no wind. So, I set the camera with elbows on my knees, two hands on the camera, and the button pushed half way down and wait.

I’m getting so I know that after one bolt flashes, I might have a minute or so until the next one. Still, hit’s hot and stuffy under that plastic bag that’s wrapped around my head. My glasses are steaming up so bad I can’t see through the viewfinder! And the no-seeums, a nasty little bug, are landing on my arms and exposed areas like I’m their favorite lollipop to be eaten.

I’m sitting there in the rain, the white bag over my head, the black lens peeking out of it, scrunched down, hunched over, elbows dug into my thighs to keep that camera steady. And then, I have red ants crawling up my legs!

Between all of that, I’ll let you see what I shot below. I sent three of the photos to Channel 12 and 15 down in Phoenix, AZ...they may show up at the 10 p.m. newscast....one never knows...but I try. And even if none of them make the news--YOU get to see them!


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's a beauty--look at the glow--this is over Cottonwood, AZ

Enjoy! Our Thunder Beings really cooperated with me tonight....


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's another lightning bolt over Cottonwood, AZ


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
And last one is a beauty because you can see the 'head' of the bolt before it struck! I find this to be a fascinating photo!


In Spirit...