'Sheer excitement': Manitoba photographer snaps photo of lightning strike and double rainbow
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
Joey Siemens, who lives in Winkler was out Monday chasing the thunderstorms in the region, trying to get a photo of lightning which eluded him. During a break in the storm, he got the perfect opportunity for a photo.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Winnipeg newsletters
"When the sun was setting, it shone toward the east and managed to display this brilliant rainbow in the sky," he said. "So I literally just kind of stepped out of my house, took the opportunity, set up my camera, and started firing off a shot."
While Siemens photographed the double rainbow, he was able to capture something else; a lightning strike from the nearby storm.
"A lightning strike happens so quickly, and this, this happened within 1/13 of a second," he said. " You're not 100 per cent sure whether or not you actually got the shot."
"When I reviewed my photos on my camera…it was just like complete disbelief, really, and then followed by sheer excitement and shouting for joy."
Siemens said when photographing storms, he typically does time-lapse shots, hoping to grab a lighting photo in one of the frames. Getting one on a regular shot was something he had never done before.
The feedback for the photo has been positive.
"There's quite a large following of people who are quite interested in storms, so they all were quite impressed," Siemens said.
His advice for photographers looking to capture a lightning strike? Be safe, and practice at night, when lightning will be more visible.
"Lightning is so unpredictable, it's a very tough thing to shoot," he said. "But really, you just have to go out there."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates: Category 4 Hurricane Milton approaches Florida coast
Hurricane Milton is a Category 4 storm forecast to bring extreme flooding, high winds and heavy rain to the central west coast of Florida.
Hundreds of thousands of popular vehicles recalled in Canada over steering issue
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled in Canada due to a steering-related issue that could increase a driver's risk of crash.
What women should know about their breasts, according to a doctor
One in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States, with 42,000 women dying every year from this cancer.
New actions announced to encourage building of secondary suites, more homes in Canada
The federal government introduced a number of measures related to housing on Tuesday, which include measures for homeowners wanting to add a secondary suite, taxing vacant land and building homes in place of underused federal properties.
WATCH Passengers fleeing Hurricane Milton rescued after private plane crashes into sea
A group of people and a dog fleeing Hurricane Milton had to be rescued near St. Petersburg, Fla., on Tuesday after a private plane crashed into the sea.
'A cause for concern': Canadian universities slip down world ranking list
An organization that ranks the best universities across the globe says its latest report shows a concerning trend that several of Canada’s institutions are slipping down its list.
Las Vegas says goodbye to the Tropicana with a flashy casino implosion
Sin City blew a kiss goodbye to the Tropicana before first light Wednesday in an elaborate implosion that reduced to rubble the last true mob building on the Las Vegas Strip.
A rare comet brightens the night skies in October
The space rock is slinging toward Earth from the outer reaches of the solar system and will make its closest pass on Saturday. It should be visible through the end of October, clear skies permitting.
COVID-19 may increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths for three years after an infection, study suggests
COVID-19 could be a powerful risk factor for heart attacks and strokes for as long as three years after an infection, a large new study suggests.