Incredible lightning storm over Vancouver BC July 25th

skinja · 07-28-2009, 11:22 AM

OK sometimes I even amaze my self.

Last Saturday the wife and I needed to make a trip up to Vancouver to pick up my Son and Daughter in-law and her brother from the airport. We went up a couple of hours early, so I could stop at a couple of camera stores and look at goodies for an upcoming workshop that I'm going to.

After visiting the camera store's we went out to Spanish beach which offers a great view of the city skyline and of course I had one of my camera kit's with me. So we are sitting at the beach and I am kind of kicking myself because I made conscious decision not to bring my tripod when we left the house. The skyline was beautiful, the sun was starting to set, thunder heads were building behind the city, lightning was starting. Now I am kicking my self even harder for leaving the tripod (I never leave my tripod)

, OK so now I need to try to hand hold my camera, I get my camera set up for some 4 sec exposures at f 9.5 find myself a perch, so here I am all set up and snap my first shot........... No Memory card in camera, Now I'm really kicking myself

, I look in the battery grip for my spare card that I am supposed to have............ Empty

.

Damn Damn Damn...... all my the cards were in my other camera bag.

I didn't give it a second thought when I left the house.

The moral of the story..... even if you think you have what you need, take the time to double check, The tripod doesn't add any weight that the car will notice, so take it with.

So I did ended up capturing some great Images. But I am the only one that will ever see them again.

SteveM · 07-28-2009, 11:38 AM

I am starting to think I should carry more of my stuff with me....I always seem to be missing something when the best stuff comes up!

Re the 25th......we could hear the thunder over the Vancouver way.....but for the most part it just missed us. We did have a weird twilight rainbow that I snapped a pic of. Not a great shot but I did capture it....

skinja · 07-28-2009, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by smc

I am starting to think I should carry more of my stuff with me....I always seem to be missing something when the best stuff comes up!

Re the 25th......we could hear the thunder over the Vancouver way.....but for the most part it just missed us. We did have a weird twilight rainbow that I snapped a pic of. Not a great shot but I did capture it....

I really can't wait to test out that fish eye, thanks for posting.

MooiKabaal · 07-29-2009, 01:33 AM

I'm kind-of in your boat - I brought the camera to take pictures of the fireworks that night and packed before it started raining. Didn't think I'd need it right away and left it in the car when we went and had dinner at Kits beach - but when we were finished the sunset was probably the most amazing I've ever seen anywhere. The entire sky was yellow/orange and at the same time there was lightning flashing everywhere. I wish I could show you a picture of it, but of course the camera was in the car, parked waaaaay up the hill, 'cause of the fireworks crowd, and by the time I got it, the sun had all but set and the effect was over.

Still getting into my mojo with the DSLR, but a crappy lesson on bringing it with you all the time.

skinja · 07-29-2009, 12:39 PM

Oh how feel your pain, This is the first time since I went with digital that I have forgot a memory card. I have run out before but never completely spaced it out

**gofour3** · 07-29-2009, 12:56 PM

Same issue with me, I was at home with a perfect view of the yellow/orange sky. Unfortunatly I had no film on hand and I do not own a digital camera, I had run out the day before!

daacon · 07-29-2009, 01:15 PM

John wow that bites ! I have forgotten one or the other usually but rarley both ! Well all three if you count the Battery Grip and I always keep a spare there as well. About all that did not happen is the battery die

skinja · 07-29-2009, 01:36 PM

So of the four of us that witnesed a great sunset and storm, we got 1 photo to remember it by. How bad are we?

Oh well, I hope I learned my lesson.

skinja · 07-29-2009, 01:50 PM

Originally posted by daacon

John wow that bites ! I have forgotten one or the other usually but rarley both ! Well all three if you count the Battery Grip and I always keep a spare there as well. About all that did not happen is the battery die

I was pissed becuse I made the decision to leave the tripod at home and then just down right angry when I discovered I left all my cards at home. Oh well live and learn.

Better now then in September

Leaf Fan · 07-29-2009, 01:58 PM

I wonder sometimes, how much of an experience I actually miss because I'm trying to watch it through the viewfinder rather than my own eyes.

I'm sure you still enjoyed the sunset despite not having your camera.

skinja · 07-29-2009, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by Leaf Fan

I wonder sometimes, how much of an experience I actually miss because I'm trying to watch it through the viewfinder rather than my own eyes.

I'm sure you still enjoyed the sunset despite not having your camera.

I know that I missed a lot of ball games sitting behind the lens.

It was a great sunset and the lightning.... OH the lightning.

Thanks for helping me keep it prospective.

Pentaxtic · 07-29-2009, 06:00 PM

This is a the sunny to storm cam still fast motion pics.

YouTube - A Day in Vancouver - katkam.ca

**gofour3** · 07-29-2009, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxtic

This is a the sunny to storm cam still fast motion pics.

YouTube - A Day in Vancouver - katkam.ca

Thanks for the link that was quite the evening. I live a couple minutes from the Burrard St. bridge and that is what it looked like from by deck. Once in a decade sunset/storm and no film!

skinja · 07-29-2009, 09:29 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxtic

This is a the sunny to storm cam still fast motion pics.

YouTube - A Day in Vancouver - katkam.ca

That was great that's exactly what I should have been taking pictures of.

Thanks for posting this, You did good

07-28-2009, 11:22 AM	#1
skinja Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Co Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968	Incredible lightning storm over Vancouver BC July 25th OK sometimes I even amaze my self. Last Saturday the wife and I needed to make a trip up to Vancouver to pick up my Son and Daughter in-law and her brother from the airport. We went up a couple of hours early, so I could stop at a couple of camera stores and look at goodies for an upcoming workshop that I'm going to. After visiting the camera store's we went out to Spanish beach which offers a great view of the city skyline and of course I had one of my camera kit's with me. So we are sitting at the beach and I am kind of kicking myself because I made conscious decision not to bring my tripod when we left the house. The skyline was beautiful, the sun was starting to set, thunder heads were building behind the city, lightning was starting. Now I am kicking my self even harder for leaving the tripod (I never leave my tripod), OK so now I need to try to hand hold my camera, I get my camera set up for some 4 sec exposures at f 9.5 find myself a perch, so here I am all set up and snap my first shot........... No Memory card in camera, Now I'm really kicking myself, I look in the battery grip for my spare card that I am supposed to have............ Empty. Damn Damn Damn...... all my the cards were in my other camera bag. I didn't give it a second thought when I left the house. The moral of the story..... even if you think you have what you need, take the time to double check, The tripod doesn't add any weight that the car will notice, so take it with. So I did ended up capturing some great Images. But I am the only one that will ever see them again.

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07-28-2009, 11:38 AM	#2
SteveM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vancouver Island, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,294	I am starting to think I should carry more of my stuff with me....I always seem to be missing something when the best stuff comes up! Re the 25th......we could hear the thunder over the Vancouver way.....but for the most part it just missed us. We did have a weird twilight rainbow that I snapped a pic of. Not a great shot but I did capture it....

07-28-2009, 09:42 PM	#3
skinja Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Co Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968 Original Poster	Originally posted by smc I am starting to think I should carry more of my stuff with me....I always seem to be missing something when the best stuff comes up! Re the 25th......we could hear the thunder over the Vancouver way.....but for the most part it just missed us. We did have a weird twilight rainbow that I snapped a pic of. Not a great shot but I did capture it.... I really can't wait to test out that fish eye, thanks for posting.

07-29-2009, 01:33 AM	#4
MooiKabaal Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 12	I'm kind-of in your boat - I brought the camera to take pictures of the fireworks that night and packed before it started raining. Didn't think I'd need it right away and left it in the car when we went and had dinner at Kits beach - but when we were finished the sunset was probably the most amazing I've ever seen anywhere. The entire sky was yellow/orange and at the same time there was lightning flashing everywhere. I wish I could show you a picture of it, but of course the camera was in the car, parked waaaaay up the hill, 'cause of the fireworks crowd, and by the time I got it, the sun had all but set and the effect was over. Still getting into my mojo with the DSLR, but a crappy lesson on bringing it with you all the time.

07-29-2009, 12:39 PM	#5
skinja Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Co Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968 Original Poster	Oh how feel your pain, This is the first time since I went with digital that I have forgot a memory card. I have run out before but never completely spaced it out

07-29-2009, 12:56 PM	#6
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,089	Same issue with me, I was at home with a perfect view of the yellow/orange sky. Unfortunatly I had no film on hand and I do not own a digital camera, I had run out the day before!

07-29-2009, 01:15 PM	#7
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	John wow that bites ! I have forgotten one or the other usually but rarley both ! Well all three if you count the Battery Grip and I always keep a spare there as well. About all that did not happen is the battery die

07-29-2009, 01:36 PM	#8
skinja Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Co Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968 Original Poster	So of the four of us that witnesed a great sunset and storm, we got 1 photo to remember it by. How bad are we? Oh well, I hope I learned my lesson.

07-29-2009, 01:50 PM	#9
skinja Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Co Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968 Original Poster	Originally posted by daacon John wow that bites ! I have forgotten one or the other usually but rarley both ! Well all three if you count the Battery Grip and I always keep a spare there as well. About all that did not happen is the battery die I was pissed becuse I made the decision to leave the tripod at home and then just down right angry when I discovered I left all my cards at home. Oh well live and learn. Better now then in September

07-29-2009, 01:58 PM	#10
Leaf Fan Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada eh! Photos: Gallery Posts: 673	I wonder sometimes, how much of an experience I actually miss because I'm trying to watch it through the viewfinder rather than my own eyes. I'm sure you still enjoyed the sunset despite not having your camera.

07-29-2009, 02:09 PM	#11
skinja Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Co Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968 Original Poster	Originally posted by Leaf Fan I wonder sometimes, how much of an experience I actually miss because I'm trying to watch it through the viewfinder rather than my own eyes. I'm sure you still enjoyed the sunset despite not having your camera. I know that I missed a lot of ball games sitting behind the lens. It was a great sunset and the lightning.... OH the lightning. Thanks for helping me keep it prospective.

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07-29-2009, 06:00 PM	#12
Pentaxtic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	This is a the sunny to storm cam still fast motion pics. YouTube - A Day in Vancouver - katkam.ca

07-29-2009, 07:18 PM	#13
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,089	Originally posted by Pentaxtic This is a the sunny to storm cam still fast motion pics. YouTube - A Day in Vancouver - katkam.ca Thanks for the link that was quite the evening. I live a couple minutes from the Burrard St. bridge and that is what it looked like from by deck. Once in a decade sunset/storm and no film!

07-29-2009, 09:29 PM	#14
skinja Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Co Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968 Original Poster	Originally posted by Pentaxtic This is a the sunny to storm cam still fast motion pics. YouTube - A Day in Vancouver - katkam.ca That was great that's exactly what I should have been taking pictures of. Thanks for posting this, You did good