Night Lightning storm over the sea

**Digitalis** · 01-22-2016, 02:51 AM - **14 Likes**

I fixed the shutter at 30s - at f/4 this was the longest exposure I could use without blowing the highlights too badly. It was very difficult to balance the colors in post with the lightning, I'm a neurotic colour correction nut, I tried dozens of techniques but in the end I just went with the simple approach of correcting for the fluorescent lights on the jetty and let the lightning go wherever it wanted to. The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 was set to 21mm, and it turned out this lens has a bit of a flare issue with the lights on the jetty. Fortunately the flare spots were pretty easy to clone out without leaving any obvious traces of editing in the repeating pattern of waves on the beach.

3/2/2016:

I re-posted my final edit - I did some minor colour corrections, as well as some CA removal. Some dark frame noise reduction was applied - this image is a result of a 5 shot digital composite. Distortion was very difficult to remove, and there is still a slight (0.6%) curve on the horizon. I had to create a custom distortion profile for the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 - the adobe Lightroom profile is complete rubbish, there is a wavy sub frequency that becomes prominent at the wide focal length settings. I'll have to refine my profile for each focal length. Add that to the long list of issues encountered while working with this lens.

Last edited by Digitalis; 02-02-2016 at 11:05 PM.

redpit · 01-22-2016, 03:04 AM

Very nice caption and editing!

Sandy Hancock · 01-22-2016, 03:11 AM

Unfortunately I was stuck in an operating theatre tea room when the storm hit.

Great capture.

Grippy · 01-22-2016, 03:23 AM

Fantastic mate, looks great with the jetty, I got a couple of decent pics, I was in a paddock next to Parafield Airport, didn't have time to make it to the beach.

**PJ1** · 01-22-2016, 04:11 AM

Nice capture and impressive PP! I am waiting for another storm up here to try again.

**csa** · 01-22-2016, 08:49 AM - **1 Like**

No critique here; that photo is perfection!

osv · 01-22-2016, 09:25 AM

cool pic!

like the color... maybe crop it a bit harder, to emphasize the lightning?

**Digitalis** · 01-22-2016, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by osv

maybe crop it a bit harder, to emphasize the lightning?

I would If I could, but I had to keep the resolution above DCI-4k as the image was used on network TV for the weather channel*. There has been some pretty crazy weather going on here in Adelaide over the past 42 hours...today we had 35 mm (a bit over 1.2 inches) of rain in 30 minutes, and powerful winds that completely ruined the day of anyone holding an open umbrella.

* In retrospect I should have used the Nikon D810, 645Z or the Leica S2. But the K5IIs was all I had to hand for colour imaging.

Top banana · 01-22-2016, 10:14 AM - **1 Like**

wonderful shot, very atmospheric

DeadJohn · 01-22-2016, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

I would If I could, but I had to keep the resolution above DCI-4k as the image was used on network TV for the weather channel*. There has been some pretty crazy weather going on here in Adelaide over the past 42 hours...today we had 35 cm (a shade over 12in) of rain in 30 minutes, and powerful winds that completely ruined the day of anyone holding an open umbrella.

* In retrospect I should have used the Nikon D810, 645Z or the Leica S2. But the K5IIs was all I had to hand for colour imaging.

I like the colors and would prefer a tighter crop, but I understand the constraints you were under. A 3:1 crop emphasizing the pier and lightning might look nice.

That looks like a new world record for rainfall. Greatest 60-Min Rainfall = 305mm (12.0"). You had more rain in only 30 minutes. Global Weather & Climate Extremes | ASU World Meteorological Organization

Sandy Hancock · 01-22-2016, 02:08 PM - **1 Like**

It was 35mm, not 35cm. Still a bloody good soaking, but not the apocalypse.

Fenwoodian · 01-22-2016, 02:28 PM - **1 Like**

Surprisingly sharp! I love the color of the sky.

**RGlasel** · 01-22-2016, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

a bloody good soaking, but not the apocalypse.

Says the guy imprisoned in an OR tea room. Only in Australia? I went 47 years without an operation, then had four in the past eight years and I've seen a "family" room next door, but never a tea room.

Sandy Hancock · 01-22-2016, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by RGlasel

Says the guy imprisoned in an OR tea room. Only in Australia? I went 47 years without an operation, then had four in the past eight years and I've seen a "family" room next door, but never a tea room.

I managed to escape

The tea room is for staff. My day job is immobilising patients so surgeons can have their way with them.

**Digitalis** · 01-22-2016, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

It was 35mm, not 35cm. Still a bloody good soaking, but not the apocalypse.

yeah that damn apocalypse that still hasn't happened... I corrected that meteorological blooper. I have been very tired lately, the hot weather we have had over the past two weeks has really screwed up my sleep patterns.

01-22-2016, 02:51 AM - 14 Likes	#1
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Lightning storm over the sea Lens: Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Camera: Pentax K5IIs Photo Location: Grange Beach ISO: 160 Shutter Speed: Above 6s Aperture: F4 I fixed the shutter at 30s - at f/4 this was the longest exposure I could use without blowing the highlights too badly. It was very difficult to balance the colors in post with the lightning, I'm a neurotic colour correction nut, I tried dozens of techniques but in the end I just went with the simple approach of correcting for the fluorescent lights on the jetty and let the lightning go wherever it wanted to. The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 was set to 21mm, and it turned out this lens has a bit of a flare issue with the lights on the jetty. Fortunately the flare spots were pretty easy to clone out without leaving any obvious traces of editing in the repeating pattern of waves on the beach. 3/2/2016: I re-posted my final edit - I did some minor colour corrections, as well as some CA removal. Some dark frame noise reduction was applied - this image is a result of a 5 shot digital composite. Distortion was very difficult to remove, and there is still a slight (0.6%) curve on the horizon. I had to create a custom distortion profile for the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 - the adobe Lightroom profile is complete rubbish, there is a wavy sub frequency that becomes prominent at the wide focal length settings. I'll have to refine my profile for each focal length. Add that to the long list of issues encountered while working with this lens. Last edited by Digitalis; 02-02-2016 at 11:05 PM.

01-22-2016, 10:12 AM	#8
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694 Original Poster	Originally posted by osv maybe crop it a bit harder, to emphasize the lightning? I would If I could, but I had to keep the resolution above DCI-4k as the image was used on network TV for the weather channel. There has been some pretty crazy weather going on here in Adelaide over the past 42 hours...today we had 35 mm (a bit over 1.2 inches) of rain in 30 minutes, and powerful winds that completely ruined the day of anyone holding an open umbrella. In retrospect I should have used the Nikon D810, 645Z or the Leica S2. But the K5IIs was all I had to hand for colour imaging. Last edited by Digitalis; 01-22-2016 at 10:46 PM.

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01-22-2016, 03:04 AM	#2
redpit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Greece Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,857	Very nice caption and editing!

01-22-2016, 03:11 AM	#3
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Unfortunately I was stuck in an operating theatre tea room when the storm hit. Great capture.

01-22-2016, 03:23 AM	#4
Grippy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Adelaide Posts: 816	Fantastic mate, looks great with the jetty, I got a couple of decent pics, I was in a paddock next to Parafield Airport, didn't have time to make it to the beach.

01-22-2016, 04:11 AM	#5
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	Nice capture and impressive PP! I am waiting for another storm up here to try again.

01-22-2016, 08:49 AM - 1 Like	#6
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	No critique here; that photo is perfection!

01-22-2016, 09:25 AM	#7
osv Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: So Cal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,080	cool pic! like the color... maybe crop it a bit harder, to emphasize the lightning?

01-22-2016, 10:14 AM - 1 Like	#9
Top banana Veteran Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 339	wonderful shot, very atmospheric

01-22-2016, 11:39 AM	#10
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Originally posted by Digitalis I would If I could, but I had to keep the resolution above DCI-4k as the image was used on network TV for the weather channel. There has been some pretty crazy weather going on here in Adelaide over the past 42 hours...today we had 35 cm (a shade over 12in) of rain in 30 minutes, and powerful winds that completely ruined the day of anyone holding an open umbrella. In retrospect I should have used the Nikon D810, 645Z or the Leica S2. But the K5IIs was all I had to hand for colour imaging. I like the colors and would prefer a tighter crop, but I understand the constraints you were under. A 3:1 crop emphasizing the pier and lightning might look nice. That looks like a new world record for rainfall. Greatest 60-Min Rainfall = 305mm (12.0"). You had more rain in only 30 minutes. Global Weather & Climate Extremes \| ASU World Meteorological Organization

01-22-2016, 02:08 PM - 1 Like	#11
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	It was 35mm, not 35cm. Still a bloody good soaking, but not the apocalypse.

01-22-2016, 02:28 PM - 1 Like	#12
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,874	Surprisingly sharp! I love the color of the sky.

01-22-2016, 02:42 PM	#13
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,228	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock a bloody good soaking, but not the apocalypse. Says the guy imprisoned in an OR tea room. Only in Australia? I went 47 years without an operation, then had four in the past eight years and I've seen a "family" room next door, but never a tea room.

01-22-2016, 02:52 PM	#14
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by RGlasel Says the guy imprisoned in an OR tea room. Only in Australia? I went 47 years without an operation, then had four in the past eight years and I've seen a "family" room next door, but never a tea room. I managed to escape The tea room is for staff. My day job is immobilising patients so surgeons can have their way with them.

01-22-2016, 06:14 PM	#15
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694 Original Poster	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock It was 35mm, not 35cm. Still a bloody good soaking, but not the apocalypse. yeah that damn apocalypse that still hasn't happened... I corrected that meteorological blooper. I have been very tired lately, the hot weather we have had over the past two weeks has really screwed up my sleep patterns.