tmronin

i started shooting about the same time. i started with a second hand F2. i shot mostly crappy film like kodak max and whatever was on sale. took me a year to figure out that buying better stock made a world of diference. actually, when i started acumulating darkroom stuff was when i started shooting plus-x and tri-x. now, the only color i shoot is slide stock. well, with the exception of portra, which i really love the 160vc. once you go black and white, it's hard to go back.

anyway, the lightning shot. here's the story. i've always shot a ton of night stuff. i used to work 2nd shift, so the only time i really had to shoot was after work. so, i was comfortable shooting in the dark, it had become second nature. 1:30-2:00 at f11 or f16 for 125iso.

this past fall we were getting some rip-roaring thunder storms. real good stuff. i live in a valley, and one night i took the dog out late before i was planning on going to bed. i saw lightning in every direction. no rain yet, so i let the dog do his thing, grabbed the gear and hauled ass up the road to get set up. i had no idea where i was going. i tried up on the hill so i could see everything. by time i got up there, it started pouring like you wouldn't believe. real nasty. decided my gear shouldn't get that wet and i headed back home. on the way i saw an overhang on the front of a business. pulled my jeep in, got out and shot. shot two rolls of 12 and i thought i'd have about half of it with lightning. i ended up getting that one frame. i couldn't believe it. the whole lightning bolt was in the frame.

i ended driving past the business a couple of days later and i saw that they make artificial limbs. what a place to stop at during a nasty storm.

yup, they're healing nicely. thanks so much for asking!
and how are you?