CC please, Lightning from Darwin

I am an avid stormchaser and thought I'd share these photos for a bit of C&C. These photos were taken on a JPEG setting and not RAW simply because I was running out of room and switched over. Taken on Canon 400D, 18-55mm kit lens on tripod f5.6 @ varying exposure times from 9 to 28 seconds using bulb mode. I am amazed of the quality of the bolt given they were JPEG and the dodgy kit lens. I now own a 17-40mm L lens but havent had lightning worthy of testing it as of yet. First one is my fav. I tried to get the plane in the pic but never expected in my wildest dreams that the bolt(s) would land where they did (especially the first one).

Yea, WOW. Are you in Florida?

TheHoff wrote in post #7007553
Yea, WOW. Are you in Florida?

Thanks man! Yer I said that and a bit more when they popped up on the LCD!

Nah mate, I'm from Darwin in Australia, a known area for big electrical storms with the wet season. These particular pics were snapped just inland of Darwin back in October this year.

TS

Ah, sorry, I didn't get the Darwin connection. I'm from Florida and we have thunderstorms like that during the summer as well.

I can only imagine your jaw hitting the concrete when you reviewed the captures

Stunning shots
Don´t sell the kit lens too short. I think it works well for long exp shots.
For a time it´s many photogs widest lens.

Dangerous, but very cool!

GREAT shots!

I've always admire the courage and the captures of those who brave their lives.
The drama is just outstanding.

Spectacular; I'm usually one to nitpick, but I can't see a damn thing wrong with any of these photos. Amazing! The last one is jaw-dropping.

Amazing photos.....I do love the way the plane is silhouetted!

TS, outstanding! yup, f5.6 is the ticket for lightning, I shot some back in August at f5.6 30sec and got the same results....crisp lighning and very dramatic clouds except the bolts I shot were weenie compared to what you captured!
Stay safe and please post some more!

In the second one it alsmost looks as if the bolt is going aroundf the plane prop. Cool shot!

Spectacular images TS

What ISO were you using on these?

Where you holding the shutter open manually as well or using a remote?

These are some of the best lightning pics I've ever seen. Well done!

Whoa. Cool. Damn.