Capturing bolts of lighting as they streak across the night sky is a tricky process that requires a lot of patience and a love for stormy weather. Photographer Mike Olbinski seems to have both of those characteristics, as illustrated in this fantastic series of energetic photographs.
Using long exposures, Olbinski captures amazing patterns of electrostatic sparks across the sky. He says, “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with weather. I used to watch lightning out my window with my brother when we were little. I have pictures of clouds I took while in high school. And now I chase storms.” Based in Arizona, Olbinski doesn’t have trouble finding these strong and intense storms. He says that the Arizona heat during the summer brings monsoon thunderstorms, resulting in amazing clouds, dust storms, and lighting.
In addition to the stunning still images, Olbinski also has a variety of captivating timelapse movies which feature the magnificent power of a storm rolling in. As clouds whirl together and the sky turns dark, the ominous presence of a terrible storm can be appreciated from the safety of our computer screens. You can watch one of these videos below and check out more on his website.
