Lightning Storms are one of the most incredible forces of nature. The sheer force of a lightning strike is enough to power a city for months on end but man has not yet learned to harness and store this incredible energy source provided free of charge by nature. As Summer approaches in South Africa, the first rains and electrical storms for the season are already brewing and we’ll soon see what kind of storm activity nature has in store for use this season. Acclaimed South African Lightning and Storm Photographer Mitchell Krog shares some of his images, views and experiences with lightning photography.
Danger Written In The Sky. Multiple Lightning Strikes Light Up The Summer Night Sky. If Only Man Could Learn To Harness This Energy. From Mitchell Krog's Lightning Photography Collections. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
For many years SA photographer Mitchell Krog has watched and studied electrical storms and to this day still stands in utter amazement at this incredible force of nature. In recent years he acquired the equipment and skills to finally capture them on film and he has produced an endless array of breathtaking images. For Mitchell it is not about simply capturing a lightning strike on film but more importantly capturing the entire scene and telling a story through his images. “With any form of photography if you can captivate a viewers attention, draw them into an image, tell them a story and have them study it for more than just a few seconds you have imprinted an ever lasting memory” says Mitchell. Lightning photography can be a very lonely passtime, only those with enough dedication, patience and endurance to be out at strange hours of the night will stand a chance of capturing unique, sometimes once in a lifetime images.
The Big Detour. A passenger aircraft destined for Lanseria airport bypasses a massive storm cell. Missing dinner and spending many lonesome hours outside comes with the job of photographing lightning storms. From Mitchell Krog's Lightning Photography Portfolio. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
As with any form of photography, timing is of the essence. If you are unprepared, unwilling or unable to drop whatever you are doing at a moments notice you will miss opportunities. “I cannot tell you how many evenings I have rushed out of the house just minutes before dinner was ready only to return home several hours later, but nature waits for no man and if you are quick to seize the opportunity you will reap the rewards” says Mitchell. Mitchell’s Fire and Ice series, capturing a grassland fire which was started by lightning strikes was one such occasion. He explains – “I was cooking dinner when I heard thunder approaching, I took a quick look outside and saw the sky glowing red from a grass fire, I dropped everything, rushed outside and managed to capture a few frames of this scene before the storm extinguished the fire it had started. This entire window of opportunity lasted a mere 20-30 minutes and was at it’s best stage for around 5-10 minutes.”
Fire and Ice. An early Spring lightning storm starts a grass fire and is captured here with strikes falling around and into the fire. Minutes later the storm extinguishes the fire it started and the moment is gone. From Mitchell Krog's Fire and Ice Lightning Photography Series. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
Safety is an important part of watching and photographing lightning storms. Finding a safe location with a good view is of the essence, you need to be able to see the storm approaching and be able to determine if you are in any way in the path of danger. “If your view is in any way blocked a storm can sneak up right behind you so a 360 degree view is preferrable, you also need somewhere safe to escape to. I’ve often been watching a storm in one direction when right behind me another one is brewing, so I always keep a watch all around me. Standing outside with a metal tripod and an electrically charged camera when strikes are falling too close is asking for trouble” says Mitchell. Mitchell insists that climbing on the roof of your house or any metal structure is a big no-no and could quickly cost you your life and he always promotes safe lightning photography. “There is just no image worth losing your life over” he adds.
Killer Storm. On the 23rd of November 2007 this mammoth supercell emitting lightning strikes up and out of it's core was captured by Mitchell Krog. The strikes emanating from the centre of this storm cell were kilometres in length and streaked across the night sky. This same evening several massive storm cells circulated through Gauteng and claimed lives in their path. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
More articles and images in this series on Lightning Photography will follow in the coming months.
Many of our planet’s treasures are being threatened – by climate change, over-development, pollution and other destructive human activities. From polar bears and tigers to whales and ocean coral; many of the things we cherish are endangered and disappearing.
Photography is one way to make sure our favorite things live on. Sumbit your favorite images of:
Submit photographs of portraits and landscapes under non-daylight conditions, and to make people reflect on the role of the sky as a backdrop (or, at times, a protagonist) of the scenes in which we move. Photos identifying in a creative way outstanding cases of light pollution will be highlighted.
Theme: photography under non-daylight conditions, exploiting as much as possible natural light sources.
Categories:
Sunset
Moon and stars
Dawn
Prizes:
Winning images will be displayed at the exhibition.
The images receiving the highest score for each category will receive an in-kind prize.
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Photographs must have the countryside or natural world at their heart, and can feature landscapes, people, British wildlife (plants and animals), farmyard animals or countryside activities, but no pets or garden plants please.
Prizes:
£1,000 worth of photography vouchers.
The entry selected as the overall favourite by the judges will also receive £500 worth of photography vouchers
Whether you’re a budding photographer, garden enthusiast or just someone who likes taking snap shots of the outdoors, there is a category and prize waiting for you.
From a close-up detail of a leaf to a sweeping panoramic garden view, from people working in their gardens to the wildlife living in them, we want to celebrate the diversity of gardens through photography.
Categories:
Garden Plants Study
Abstract
The Seasonal Garden
Garden Wildlife
Gardening and Gardeners
Fruit and Veg
Young Photographer (under 18)
Up to five photos can be entered on anything from the above subjects.
Children’s Photograph (under 11)
Up to five photos can be entered on anything that interests you in your garden from a frog in a pond to super tall sunflowers.
Prizes:
RHS Photographer of the Year: £1,000
RHS Young Photographer of the Year: Digital camera
Adult
First prize £350
Second prize £200
Third prize £100
Children and Young Photographers (under 18)
First: Digital camera
Second: Photographic vouchers
Third: Photographic vouchers
The Medici Cards Award Image made into a greeting card and the winner will receive 200 copies of their card to keep.
Professional, non Professional and Students will compete separately in three different sections in this second edition. There will be 25 categories in each section, and each category will have two genres: single image, and series or portfolios. Each genre will be judged as a different category to encourage a broad spectrum of submissions.
Categories:
Portrait
People
Culture and Daily Life
Self Portrait
Wedding
Children
Figure and Nude
Fine Art
Landscapes
Citiscapes
Animals and Wildlife
Nature Architecture
Abstract
Macro and Micro
Still Life
Sports
Performing Arts
Fashion
Advertising
Editorial and Current Affairs
Humanitarian Documentary
Environmental Issues
Alternative Processes
Digital Manipulation
Prizes:
Professional: WPGA 2010 Professional Photographer of the Year, US$ 5,000 cash prize
Non Professional: WPGA Amateur Photographer of the Year, US$ 3,000 cash prize
Students: WPGA 2010 Emerging Talent of the Year, US$ 1,500 cash prize
Additionally one photographer will receive the WPGA Humanitarian Documentary Grant 2010 and US$ 3,000 cash prize.
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This image of Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, shows the city dwarfed in comparison to a massive lightning strike on the surrounding hills. Lightning photographer Mitchell Krog endured several hours of extreme dust storms and cold winds in excess of 80km/h to obtain this image. “It’s disappointing to note how South African’s are “conserving” power, it seems everyone in South Africa has long forgotten the Eskom Load Shedding debacle of last year and the recent and coming price hikes to electricity” says Mitchell.
A massive lightning strike dwarfs Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa. From Mitchell Krog's Lightning Photography Portfolios. (Copyright Mitchell Krog - All Rights Reserved)
This image will soon be available in print, watch this site for more details to be announced soon.
Theme: "A Moment of Magic"
Whether you’re a budding photographer, garden enthusiast or just someone who likes taking snap shots of the outdoors, there is a category and prize waiting for you. 
