Rolf Maeder, a photographer with a passion for capturing lightning strikes, managed to capture some stunning shots of the Grand Canyon amidst a stormy sky by using long exposures. It just goes to show that opportunities can arise unexpectedly. Maeder and two of his buddies took a trip from Sedona to the Grand Canyon on August 30th, hoping to snap some sunset photos.
Maeder explains that due to the thick foggy light, they were unable to capture what they wanted, and decided to return to Sedona to explore other viewpoints. While at Moran Point, they were surprised to witness a developing lightning storm in the distance. To capture this unexpected moment, they set up their tripods and snapped away. Using a Nikon D800, 24mm lens, f/8, ISO 400, and a 25-second exposure, they captured an image with two lightning strikes at 9 p.m. The long exposure allowed them to capture both strikes in a single photograph.
The Grand Canyon is an extraordinary sight to behold, measuring over 277 miles in length, up to 18 miles in width, and over a mile deep. The Colorado River and its tributaries have carved out this natural wonder, revealing over two billion years of geological history through layers upon layers of rock. These breathtaking images were taken from Moran Point, located on the South Rim of the canyon at an elevation of 7160 feet above sea level.
