Powerfully Peaceful Nights in Baghdad

The early morning force pro shifts are usually the toughest. You're usually tired, sweating, and hold some reservations about the oncoming heat of morning which rapidly approaches. I took on my shift at a quarter to four in the morning, right in the middle of a lightning, thunder, rain, and dust storm. The rooftop was already wet with rain, and directly above me there were no clouds. Revealing the stars with an open curtain of clouds, and a soft cool breeze. The storm was still all around, on every side enveloping the scene with flashes of distant light and reverberations of Thor's magnificent voice, thunder. Everything in serenity right in the eye of the storm, to include the peace brought to mind.



The lightning was striking all around, on every side. The thunder was rare, but powerful, and I did something I haven't done in a long time, relax. The long deep breath allowed by the cool breeze and the rain purified air allowed it for the first time in 10 months. How wonderful an experience, of a lightning storm here in Baghdad. As powerful as it was, as many strikes that lit up the night it was surprisingly peaceful. It wasn't a southern storm that came in with fury and took out everything in it's path. It strode strongly, but tread softly on the land. Although it was observed that perhaps Thor had finally figured out how horrible a land this was, and subsequently just was launching lightning bolt after lightning bolt until he could yield no more from his massive quiver. The night seemed to be constantly lit with a flash coming from any and all directions.



The peacefulness of the storm was just a mask for it's destructive power. Further north an American helicopter crashed due to the storm, killing one and injuring twelve others. A horrible reminder of the power of mother nature. Not knowing that at the time, I enjoyed the serenity that the storm had brought last night. But, much like a night-out with much sin and awesome feeling of power, the morning after can always leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.



Being such an amateur photographer, I tried my best to capture the awesome might of the storm, but only ended up with a few photos of the prize, the Gods bolts. My camera being that of a caveman's, it was a tedious task of snapping pictures. The 3.2 MP Canon I have is still a marvelous camera, even being as old as it is. Despite the few pictures actually capturing any lightning, the ones that I did capture were simply amazing, and purely coincidental. Lucky. There is only four pictures that I'm putting up on here that are different. There are other ones that I skewed colors, contrast and exposure of, because it is simply the most amazing thing I have ever seen, or at least taken a picture of. The photos to follow are of a dual bolt that I caught luckily zoomed in on the initial point from the clouds. You can actually see the electricity arcing in a smooth pattern trying to touch from one bolt to the other in their close proximity. The first photo is untouched, and the rest to follow have been only altered to give a different feel for every picture. Enjoy.


This is the untouched one. Glorious Purple Pride


This is a close up of the arcing between the two bolts. So smooth, so purely electric!


Black and White


Affectionately named: Meat Hammer


Thor's Awesome Power


Thor came upon the land of Baghdad and realized the disgust and hate that all should share for this desolate land. His distaste for the land a choking feeling to the lungs and eyes. And so he reached into his quiver of bolts and let out with a fury of his strong arms, throws that would punish the land with an awesome and deadly fury.