safe haven for tiny formats

**Jmarmck** · 25-Jul-2015, 05:54

First good storm of the season
D800E July 24, 2015

Enigma Storm by Marty McKimmey, on Flickr

**Corran** · 25-Jul-2015, 09:36

Nice one Marty! There's been some wicked storms down here lately.

**Jmarmck** · 25-Jul-2015, 11:58

Thanks Bryan. This one was parked over Enigma just east of Tifton. It was moving your direction but very slowly. But this storm was really active. It was just a bit too far away. I was using a 70-200 zoom at 135mm. We had a electrical storm here earlier this week that was extremely dangerous. It has been many years since I have seen one like that. But I do not attempt taking pictures of those. I like these big thunderheads in the distance where the thunder can't be heard. The bolts shooting in around and through them is amazing.

**Corran** · 25-Jul-2015, 13:05

I agree! I don't know of many places down here to shoot far-off storms except a fire tower that isn't really accessible in the late evenings (it's on military property, and I had a friend run out of there by military police at night before). The parking deck on campus works but it's a rather drab foreground for photos! 90% of the storms I've seen have no real bolts (that I see).

**Jmarmck** · 25-Jul-2015, 13:32

That is why this time of year is the season. These are summer heating storms so there is little surrounding lower deck clouds. This makes the middle and upper portions visible at distance. The season is middle of July to middle of September. I have an old golf course as a front yard so there is some distance before trees. But there are a lot of city lights to the north (Albany) NE (Marine base) and NW (airport). I have to jerk around with the white balance. But if you can find a large field that should work. You only need a hundred yards or so to the tree line.