For a "stay at home where it is safe" photographer you struck some serious magic with this shot. This monochrome versions of lightning and the clouds above is really interesting. I do like thos clouds. Lightning always produces strong impact so this image has a greart deal going for it. I like the cropped and flipped version but as long as you are playing around with this why not just mae it square and completely get rid of the power pole? I also thing there are some interesting colors in the sky so maybe use some of your editing skills and work with some of those colors?   Posted: 10/01/2026 18:48:25

Thanks Larry - btw, I'm stay at home no more :-)   Posted: 10/01/2026 18:57:25

Butch, This is a very appropriately titled image! The lightening is amazing and I like that you decided to convert this to monochrome because it simplifies the image and emphasizes the lines, shapes and luminosity of the wicked lightening strike and the clouds. The power pole I think takes up too much visual weight and detracts from the spectacular lightening shot you captured. I would eliminate the pole altogether and be thrilled with the shot! I would be interested in knowing why you have question marks on all the camera info…isn't it all in the metadata?   Posted: 10/06/2026 03:33:08

Thanks for your comments Ann - when I type my reviews I do so in Word and then copy/paste and dashes in Word become quotation marks when copied in our response box. I use dashes when I write, it's a style I picked up somewhere but an excellent question. You and Larry both feel the lightning IS the shot - I won't argue but I think lightning and Milky Way photographs need an interesting terrestrial anchor, and that's where the storm was :-) and thanks to you and Larry, I've re-cropped to a square.   Posted: 10/06/2026 04:03:18

Butch,
Like you I enjoyed shooting lightning during the AZ monsoon season! I'm in agreement with Larry and Ann about eliminating the ppower pole. Love what you have done with the clouds. I might also clone out all of the lights from houses in the bottom.   Posted: 10/16/2026 21:53:06

  Posted: 10/16/2026 21:53:08

David - I sincerely thank you all! Apparently, my power pole has united the group more effectively than my lightning has! I appreciate the kind words about the clouds and monochrome treatment, too.

I understand the concern about the pole's visual weight, but I have a soft spot for a terrestrial anchor in a lightning photograph. To my eye, lightning floating in an empty sky becomes a little like fireworks-spectacular for a moment, but then I want something that tells me where I am and gives the display some scale. The pole and neighborhood lights connect this storm to the world underneath it.

I will experiment with toning them down, but I'm reluctant to evict the entire neighborhood. Besides, that poor pole stood outside through the storm while I photographed from the safety of the overhang on my front porch. Surely it deserves a little credit! :-) Thanks again
  Posted: 10/16/2026 23:05:47

Well I'm going to be the contrarian here. I like the story told by the juxtaposition of the lightning bolt and the electric pole, and the lights and houses are also part of the story. However I wouldn't flip it. Having the pole on the right side of the frame, makes it act as a block to your eye drifting out of the frame. The lightning at the left leads you to it as your eye naturally scans Left to Right.
So in my VF I left the orientation, and increased the contrast using the black slider, clarity and dehaze. I was going for intense tonal contrast, not worried about detail.   Posted: 10/21/2026 18:24:32

Thank you Cindy - I love these discussions - and now that I look at it again, I'm inclined to agree with you - the different perspectives are great, thanks again   Posted: 10/21/2026 20:14:33

I like the power line in the shot but I wish it was closer to the lightning - not that you could have done anything about that. Also, for some reason, I like the colored version with the lightning on the left better.   Posted: 10/21/2026 21:42:32

Congratulations Butch, this is a great example of Juxtaposition, I see what you meant with this photo.

The man made electricity vs the context of nature electricity is the story here, this is not a landscape photo of the powerful storm, but a tongue in the cheek story of man made power vs nature's power.

Yes you can do just the storm and the lightning, and it will still be a excellent photo. Your photo is more than another pretty photo, it makes me think and have a good chuckle.

I would not flip the photo when you keep the pole in as it creates a dead-end vs natural flow left to right.

Well done!   Posted: 10/26/2026 08:20:01

Thanks Mariana - when I read "a tongue in the cheek story of man made power vs nature's power." I knew you GOT IT - that was my sole purpose - thanks   Posted: 10/26/2026 13:42:46