Close encounter

I thought I’d take advantage of storms going through the other night to practice my night photography. I’ve always wanted to get a good lightening shot and this evening held little promise of rain with the storms so I didn’t have to be too concerned about getting my equipment wet.

I got the kids tucked in, made sure they were fast asleep, and snuck out of the house about 11:00 p.m. armed with my camera, tripod and iPhone (love that flashlight app). I tried a few shots from my back yard since there are relatively no trees and no major landscape features beyond. I thought it would be nice to have a pretty straight horizon, clouds and stars above. I zeroed in my settings but didn’t love what I was getting. Plus, the lightening seemed to be more to the north. So around to the other side of the house I went, praying my cell phone battery would last long enough to give me light to see where I was going.

I had taken a few shots and was fairly pleased with the outcome. I decided that, to get away from the trees and the fence showing up in the foreground, I would set my tripod just inside the cattle pen that borders the yard. This time of year, it isn’t used so is full of tall, overgrown weeds. I was working mostly with the light from the back of my camera display to conserve my phone battery at this point. I had just pushed my shutter button when I thought I heard something rustling in the weeds.

I pressed a button on my phone to get the display to light up and EEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!! A little black furry creature with a distinct white stripe down his back was at the base of my tripod. You would not believe the rush of adreneline that propelled me toward our trampoline 20 feet behind me!

So there I was, out of breath on the trampoline in the pitch dark. Thankfully I hadn’t dropped my nearly dead phone in the commotion. I dialed my hubby in the house. Two rings and it cuts out. Waited for him to call me back. No dice. Dialed again and he answers. I rushed, “I’moutsidebringthe.22andaflashlight.” The phone cut out again.

From my perch I can see lights being turned on, then off again systematically as he goes throughout the house looking for me. Finally I hear the front door open. He came around the side of the house, flashlight (but no gun) in hand muttering, “What the hell are you doing!?!” (Remember that part about leaving the house quietly? Ya, I didn’t tell him I left and he apparently didn’t hear me either.)

Shooting rule #1: ALWAYS tell someone where you are going.

DH is still chuckling about the episode. He swears it was one of our cats. I have no doubt it was not a cat.

Here’s my shot. I think it was worth it. Besides, the story is fun!