Lightning (d-040709-048)

In gallery: Photos of the month (2004)
Related photos: Lightning

Cloud to ground lightning from a monsoon storm lights up the evening sky. The storm occurred near Carlsbad, New Mexico (USA) on July 9.

Photo taken with Nikon D100 digital SLR camera, handheld, with support of car door (I had no choice - I left my tripod at home!). This photo also illustrates that digital cameras do a fair job with lightning photography, if the camera can do time-exposures ("bulb" mode).