Thunderstruck
(continued)
The big lightning storm that had slammed into lower Manhattan was now moving across the East River and into Brooklyn. I ran to a vantage point of the bridge, and set up quickly so as not to miss this rare opportunity. It was a natural fireworks display just a couple of weeks after the Brooklyn Bridge's anniversary pyrotechnic display.
I stood on the Manhattan side of the East River, which remained eerily calm, shooting continuously for the next 15 minutes. My camera was getting hot to the touch. I couldn't stop to check exposures, framing or even focus, as if I did, I knew I'd miss the most perfect lightning during those precious seconds! As it was, I missed a disturbing number of the best lightning bolts, which perversely kept exploding during the milliseconds between shutter releases. So I drew on all I have learned from previous night photography, and just kept going nonstop without checking what I was shooting, hoping for the best.
Finally the show wound down, and I went off to meet my wife. She hadn't heard the thunder, old New York buildings have thick walls!
The next morning I got up early and sold usage rights for this one to the Daily News, where it ran as a color spread in their Tuesday edition.
Thunderstruck
(continued)
The big lightning storm that had slammed into lower Manhattan was now moving across the East River and into Brooklyn. I ran to a vantage point of the bridge, and set up quickly so as not to miss this rare opportunity. It was a natural fireworks display just a couple of weeks after the Brooklyn Bridge's anniversary pyrotechnic display.
I stood on the Manhattan side of the East River, which remained eerily calm, shooting continuously for the next 15 minutes. My camera was getting hot to the touch. I couldn't stop to check exposures, framing or even focus, as if I did, I knew I'd miss the most perfect lightning during those precious seconds! As it was, I missed a disturbing number of the best lightning bolts, which perversely kept exploding during the milliseconds between shutter releases. So I drew on all I have learned from previous night photography, and just kept going nonstop without checking what I was shooting, hoping for the best.
Finally the show wound down, and I went off to meet my wife. She hadn't heard the thunder, old New York buildings have thick walls!
The next morning I got up early and sold usage rights for this one to the Daily News, where it ran as a color spread in their Tuesday edition.