July 6 – Chasing lightning
A quick post and a few photos to honor the beautiful storms of yesterday to the north.
Perhaps there will be time on a soggy day to better fill in the post, no time today.
The biggest threat for real nasty storms this year is already cooking in the hills and I’m just about to get going.
JUST HAD THE BEST CHASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was amazing. 3 funnels, a shed blowing across the road in front of me and a farmers barn destroyed. I’ve never seen storms spin like that. Was east of Sundre and West of Olds mostly.
just had to share. Was hoping i’d bump into you out there. Met alot of nice chasers. Felt like I was in Oklahoma though. Chasing is blowing up in canada to I guess
July 7th, 2011 at 9:59 pmThat was an amazing beast for sure.
July 7th, 2011 at 11:18 pmI hope that wasn’t you I saw west of Olds with the busted windshield. Never seen so many people watching a storm in Canada.
Can’t wait to see your images of today’s storm!
July 8th, 2011 at 12:06 amPat I can not thank you enough for letting me chase with you! I learned so much from you and there is no way I would have gotten the shots I did if it wasn’t for you.
July 8th, 2011 at 12:15 amI hope we can meet up again this summer.
Kara
Hi Kara
July 8th, 2011 at 12:24 amThat was great fun, if these beasties keep on brewing it is likely we will run into each other again in Olds alley.
Whata treat for all who got to see it.
Wow some of the mesoscale activity looked as though it was springtime in Oklahoma, not Olds. Haha. Anyone who was up there this afternoon is truly fortunate. Olds / Innisfail areas have gotten a lot of Action this year.
July 8th, 2011 at 3:28 amHi Pat,
July 8th, 2011 at 7:04 amTracking that storm on radar as i had yeterday an
today of.Very defined hook most of the afternoon.Look
forward to your pictures.Will be in the county of
SmokyLake near Warspite July29th till Aug14th Hope its
active.
Colin McIntyre
Victoria BC
Pat, did you see all the downed trees north of Olds? After I parted ways with you I dropped the kids off at home with Jer and picked up a friend of mine. We headed north on the road that goes past New Holland and the dump only to have our path blocked by a huge tree. I’ll send you the pictures of it if you didn’t.
July 8th, 2011 at 8:47 amKara
Anthony I don’t think I’ve seen motion like that on a storm up here. The sheer number of people watching made it seem like the alley.
Hi Colin, they have been busy up there already, but I’m sure there will be some left for your visit
Kara I have heard a few reports of downed trees, now hearing of a 3km swath of downed trees west of Innisfail.
July 8th, 2011 at 8:56 amWe heard that a tornado touched down west of Innisfail on the radio last night, but it was dark by the time we were headed back that way so we didn’t get a chance to see the damage.
July 8th, 2011 at 9:18 amNow I have to process all the pictures I took, I hate that part. Haha. I’m so new to all this, so much to learn!
I don’t know how you got lightning shots like that… but they are amazing! I went out just south of leduc too… but mine didn’t turn out nearly as good. What settings do you use?
July 11th, 2011 at 11:42 pmThanks Alysa
Setting vary a lot depending on how close, how bright the flashes are, how dark the sky is is. f5.6-8 for as long as you can keep the shutter open for rare bolts, bulb setting with a remote for frenzy lightning. That way you can take a little, or a lot of zots in the same shot.
July 11th, 2011 at 11:58 pm