Lightning - a new photographic experience

Thursday, 27 October. My Italian landlady, Annalise, her seven-year-old daughter, Poppy, and I had just gathered around the dinner table when the first, rather soft, yet impressing thunder and lightning occurred. We went outside and witnessed how both, thunder and lightning became more intense and impressive, at least for me that was. Annalise and Poppy must have felt the same way as Annalise suggested to take the car and drive up a nearby hill from where we could oversee the entire bay as well as the hinterland. So, I sensed that this could be a good opportunity to try a different area of photography. I rushed into my room, grabbed my camera bag, tripod and the fastest film roll there was (ISO 400) and within less than a minute we set out. When we arrived at the top of the hill, possibly five minutes later, it began to rain; of course. There I was, still sitting in the car, worrying about my camera equipment getting all wet. No need to say that at the same time I was quite excited about this intriguing photographic opportunity. Having been a dedicated admirer of MacGyver since my early childhood, I decided to use my simple, 100% cotton T-shirt to design a “water resistant casing” for my camera and I must have done well because despite the fact that I spent at least a quarter of an hour in the rain, the camera remained dry and I managed to take some frames too. So there I was, standing in the middle of the dark, topless, wearing nothing but my boardshorts and flip flops (or as the Australians say: thongs) – somebody should have taken a picture of that, I guess. Anyway, I have posted my favourites below. In order to totally appreciate especially Lightning 02 you are reminded that it was pitch black. I hope you enjoy the pictures. They are not award winners; yet for me it definitely was an interesting experience.

Sebastian