[güttsfükk]

for more threads like this one : http://www.documentingreality.com/fo...me-line-45276/

From 1882-90, amateur photographer William N. Jennings took the first-ever photographs of lightning. Dazzling, dramatic, and amazing, given the technology available at the time, they caused an international stir and established Jennings as a pioneer in his field. The award-winning originals are in the George Eastman House Museum in Rochester, New York.

The First Photograph of lightning:

Jennings' success in photographing lightning paved the way for further research on the structure of lightning. Viewing his slides, scientists could discern distinct and varying patterns of electric discharge which result in the bolts of lightning that electrify the sky during thunderstorms. By all accounts, Jennings was inspired to attempt to photograph lightning after witnessing artistic renderings of lightning. He found that most artists depicted lightning as having a zig-zag shape, and set out to discover whether or not lightning did, in reality, have a zig-zag form. He determined that it did not, but on the way to this conclusion he discovered many of the forms it does take. The Franklin Institute Awards Committee assembled a report outlining the different varieties of lightning Jennings photographed, accompanying each form with its corresponding photograph.

Jennings first photographed lightning on the evening of September 2, 1882.

Jennings' took his second successful photo of lightning in August, 1885. This photo was published in the Scientific American in September of the same year (1885).

even though this image has "first photograph of lightning" scribbled on it, it's the second picture taken of lightning.

[güttsfükk]

"The Work of William N. Jennings in the Photography of Lightning" Essay

[güttsfükk]

Lightning Striking

Jennings named the types of lightning he photographed according to their patterns of electric discharge. The table below outlines the forms reported on by The Franklin Institute, paring each with a digitized version of the original image.

"Branched" discharge: named for the delicate "branches" created by its electric discharge.

"Beaded" lightning: a photograph of this unique form of lightning was printed in the French publication "La Nature" (Nature) and entitled "the rosary."

"Ribbon" lightning: in an article printed in the Journal of The Franklin Institute, Jennings explained that wind moving across the path of lightning in space produced a ribbon-like form of lightning.

"Multiple flash": Jennings showed that lightning sometimes prepares a path for successive flashes.

"Meandering" flash: form of lightning discharge that takes place from cloud to cloud, usually occurring at the end of a storm.

Subject to debate: this photo captures the phenomenon of a brilliant main flash with dark side branches, the cause of which has been given a great deal of discussion.

[kellyhound]

amazing vintage pics.

[güttsfükk]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

amazing vintage pics.

i knew you'd enjoy these when i was posting them

[Nve]

I've not seen ribbon lightning photographed before...mind you I've never looked it up either, but that is a great photo.

Good find.

[souris]

slap a "first picture of" and it's all good.

[LittleNightmare]

[ilovedirt]

excellent pictures, thanks for sharing :D

[dooshman]

Photographing lightning is not a matter of luck, but patience and an element of fearlessness. You set the shutter to "B", and let the fireworks fly!!!