Storms & Lightning Photography
I spend my nights watching the sky, waiting for the perfect split-second strike. Whether it is over the Mumbai skyline or the hills near Pune, these images capture the raw, unpredictable power of a storm.
A web of lightning spreads across the purple night sky above the dense architecture of Mumbai.
A powerful lightning bolt strikes down towards the city, captured in a moment of intense brightness.
A dramatic lightning strike illuminates a stormy cloud formation over Mumbai's residential towers.
A lightning bolt appears to strike a tall building during one of May's first thunderstorms in Mumbai.
A single, bright fork of lightning cuts through the night sky between city buildings.
A horizontal lightning strike stretches across the sky above the illuminated apartment blocks.
A smaller, vertical lightning bolt captured amidst the dark storm clouds over the city.
Multiple branches of lightning captured in a single long exposure, spiderwebbing across the sky.
Multiple purple lightning strikes illuminate the hills outside Pune, creating a scene I call 'Nature's rave'.
Another shot from the Pune thunderstorm, capturing the powerful bolts against the dark, mountainous silhouette.
About Forces of Nature: Storms & Lightning
Capturing lightning is not just about fast reflexes. It requires long exposure photography where the camera stays open for several seconds, balancing the ambient city glow with the intense, sudden flash of a bolt. I use a combination of drone photography and static tripod setups to ensure the composition captures both the height of the strike and the scale of the landscape below, from Mumbai's high-rises to the hills of Pune.
Chasing storms is a game of patience and preparation. In Mumbai, the monsoon brings dramatic cloud formations that can shift in minutes. I track weather patterns to position myself, often on rooftops or high vantage points, to get a clear line of sight away from obstructions.
Most of the lightning shots you see here are long exposures. The shutter stays open, allowing the sensor to register the ambient light from the city streets or apartment blocks. When the lightning strikes, it exposes the scene. The challenge is ensuring the city lights do not overexpose the frame before the bolt even hits. This requires careful light metering and often multiple attempts to get the balance right.
My work spans the dense architecture of Mumbai to the more open, mountainous terrains near Pune. In the city, the juxtaposition of high-rise residential towers and electric strikes creates a sense of scale. In Pune, the focus shifts to the natural landscape, where the dark silhouettes of hills frame the lightning. If you are looking for specific imagery for editorial projects, weather documentation, or simply want high-quality prints of these moments, let us connect.
Jdopat
I treat my camera as a travel companion, always ready to pivot when the clouds turn dark. I am based in Mumbai, but I follow the storms wherever the weather takes me. My goal is to capture the vibe of the moment, whether it is a quiet, distant flash or a thunderous strike over the city.
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