Some days just work out no matter how hard you try to ruin it. After gambling on an after-work storm, I found myself in a tricky situation. Should I head home or continue on in hopes of a photogenic storm emerging? On most days, it’s not a tough choice for me. I’m a storm chaser, it’s what I do, but with a 67-mile drive and 70 miles until empty, everything would have to work perfectly. The decision was made and luckily a storm started getting its act together. Closer and closer this storm crept across the prairie. Just as it started dropping bolts, the rain decided to move in and force me away. I couldn’t stay south of the storm and out of precip with my lack of go go juice, so north through the storm it was. Just as the rain stopped I noticed the sun peeking out from under some western clouds. Slamming the brakes and jumping out of the car I noticed a slight rainbow forming. Filled with excitement and what ifs, I set up my camera. No longer than 5 minutes passed and the rainbow was full and vibrant, yet still no bolts. After what seemed like an eternity, with a flash and clap of thunder, lightning joined the party. Just crawlers for the first few, and suddenly out of nowhere, a beautiful lightning bolt descended upon the earth and graced my lens. I couldn’t contain my excitement as I finally captured a bolt within a beautiful rainbow.
