August 20, 2013: blue moon bolts - Florida lightning and full moon
August 20, 2013: I've been really distressed about the lack of nighttime lightning on our coast this summer, so when I saw some flashing on August 20, I had to check it out. It also happened to be the night of the full "blue moon," and these offshore storms east of me were isolated enough that I got a clear view of the moon and stars as I took my photos. The result is a photo I've been trying to get for a long time - a nice shot of lightning and the moon. Actually, I got several such photos, but the first one, shot from Cocoa, Florida, looking east over the Indian River Lagoon, is my favorite. Prints are available here.Share
Time-lapse of storms with lightning and the full blue moon, shot from Cocoa, Florida, August 20, 2013.
Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image.
My best shot was one of my first as I pointed my camera east from Cocoa. The storms were over the Atlantic Ocean, beyond Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach. (ISO 100, f/8, 16 seconds at 14mm using the 12-24mm lens.) Prints of this photo are for sale here. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com
The full moon almost looks like a sun with a long exposure - in this case, 8.5 seconds. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com
I loved the way the moon illuminated the clouds. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com
Even the stars were visible. The bridge is the causeway over the Indian River Lagoon. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com
I dropped a bit south on the river road as more storms developed to the east. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com
The moon was getting higher all the time. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com
The palm tree is lit by a street light, and the wind made it move, creating a blur. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com
Ooo, possible positive bolt out of the top of the storm! The moon is hanging in there. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com
The moon is about to slip out of my frame as the lightning lit up one of the storms. Photo by Chris Kridler, SkyDiary.com, ChrisKridler.com