A picture-perfect storm: Photographer on the art and risk of capturing lightning shots

A photographer has captured some amazing photographs near Tilbury.

Capturing lightning in a photograph can be electrifying — but it’s also one of the trickiest and riskiest shots a photographer can take.

A viral image from east of Tilbury, Ont. last week, showing a bolt hitting a wind turbine, has sparked fresh conversation about the patience and precautions needed to get that perfect strike.

The photo, taken Aug. 12 just before 11 p.m. by Barb Arsenault, was shared widely in a local storm watchers Facebook group, with many marvelling at her perfectly timed shot.

For Donny Moore, who has spent nearly 20 years photographing landscapes and storms across Windsor-Essex, the image highlighted both the challenge and the thrill of lightning photography.

“You can sit there for hours and not get a single strike on camera,” Moore said.

“Most of the time, it’s just flashes you miss or bolts that happen outside the frame. So, when you capture a moment that clean, it really shows how rare it is.”

Moore said Essex County is one of the best places in Canada to witness lightning, thanks to its geography.

“It has the most lightning strikes in Canada per year, just the way we’re situated in the south,” he explained.

“I personally track a lot of storms coming in through Ohio and Michigan, and that gives you a better opportunity to see lightning.”

Long exposures make lightning easier to catch at night, he added. By leaving the camera shutter open, photographers increase their odds of freezing a strike in frame. But during the day, he admitted, it often comes down to luck and playing the “waiting game.”

“It’s a lot of patience. Different storms bring different kinds of lightning — sometimes it’s constant, sometimes it’s sporadic,” he said.

“The more you’re out there watching the radar, tracking where a storm’s heading, the greater your chances.”

Still, there’s no guarantee.

“You can point your camera one way and get a huge strike off to the left or right,” he said.

“There’s always that element of luck.”

While the results can be striking, Moore stressed that safety has to come first.

“You don’t want to be sitting there when a full storm comes over you,” he said.

“Storms can bring strong winds, hail — and of course lightning itself. You’ve got to have your wits about you and get out of the way before the worst of it arrives.”

Moore said he positions himself ahead of an incoming storm, shoots as it approaches, then moves to safety as the heavy weather closes in. Sometimes, he’ll resume shooting again once the system has passed.

For those who elect to be more cautious, Moore suggested seeking shelter as the storm passes through and then capturing photos as it moves away.

“You have to have respect for a storm,” he said.

“Don’t sit under trees or near power lines. Don’t think it can’t hit you — because it can. I’ve had lightning strike 50 feet away from me before, and it’s frightening when it gets that close.”

Despite the risk, Moore admitted there’s a thrill to photographing lightning — and moments like the Tilbury strike remind him why.

“It’s exciting when you get that shot,” he said.

“But it’s never easy and it’s never guaranteed. That’s what makes it so special.”