Florida Alley Lightning
July 06, 2010
Photographer: Howard L. Cohen; Howard's website
Summary Author: Howard L. Cohen
This photo shows a fierce bolt of lightning from an early morning thunderstorm (1:42 a.m.) on June 6, 2010. The camera is looking north over West Gainesville, Florida. Gainesville sits on the edge of North America's "Lightning Alley," the most active lightning region in North America. Here, moist air surrounding the Florida peninsula moves inland and rises over land intensely heated by the summer Sun, regularly producing potent storms and often dramatic lightning displays. Most of the storms occur during the afternoon hours but nighttime storms are not uncommon.
Photo Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera; Canon 20-35 mm lens; f/3.5-4.5 USM at 20 mm; camera set at ISO 200; 30 seconds exposure at f/16 white balance at Auto; image slightly cropped from original frame.