Photographer and Arizona Highways contributor Mike Olbinski is an expert at capturing photos of Arizona's storms. We featured some of his work in an August 2014 portfolio of our state's monsoon storms. But the photo Olbinski posted to his Facebook page earlier this month just might be his most impressive yet.
The image is a single 10-second exposure of lightning strikes behind the iconic Superstition Mountains near Phoenix. Here's Olbinski's account of how he got the shot:
Last night, as I crawled into bed, I looked at the radar and sure enough...despite me being tired, storms were firing over the Superstitions. I tried to ignore, but 20 minutes later they looked even better. So of course...this is what I do, so I left.
I arrive at this location (Apache Junction...near Lost Dutchman Blvd and Idaho Road) where I've been a million time to shoot sunsets, storms and everything else. But never have I captured lightning here.
From 11:15pm onward, it seems like I would have to be satisfied with some average strikes...which looked great to me at the time.
But at 12:50am...this unbelievable display of power and energy exploded over the mountains, illuminated the cliffs, the road and the landscape around it.
When the camera finished taking the photo...I saw it, and lost my mind. I knew right at that moment, it was the greatest lightning photo I'd ever taken.
This is a single exposure of 10-seconds. No stack. I am somewhat still in disbelief that this even happened. Never would I have guessed or hoped for a shot like this. All the work, the miles, the sleep-deprivation...it all pays off with shots like these.
Congratulations, Mike, on an incredible photo.
Photo: Lightning strikes over the Superstition Mountains on July 3. | Mike Olbinski