Lightning Lady Lightning Photography

Susan Strom, known in the Southwest as the "Lightning Lady",
is a photographer who specializes in lightning of the Arizona Desert,
United States. Severe weather powered by the North American Monsoon
is her favorite target. She has photographed severe weather
in 10 states.

***

I was asked once, "Why lightning? What is it about lightning?"

"I have thought about that question a lot.

To me, a primitive thing like a lightning bolt possesses a kind of purity.
It is as if there are two realms to the world, man's various infrastructures,
and the vast and timeless world of natural things.

When people cross from one to the other, as when chasing a storm
or sailing a ship, we drop the connection to things we call civilized
(which are really not), and reach for something real, untamed, unspoiled,
and so much larger than ourselves.

A brilliant thunderbolt hurling to Earth is a symbol of pure, unfettered
primitive energy. This is one of the main reasons why I do not alter my pictures.
I only want to show the unchanged version of what the sky gave me,
just as it happened. A surge of 30,000 amperes is not only bigger than I am,
but totally wild, unpredictable, and completely unaffected by humans.

Originally, it was a close encounter with a violent monsoon storm in 1994
that ignited my quest. A fear had resulted, and though short-lived,
it evolved into an unquenchable thirst for lightning knowledge.
The persistent desire to see and photograph the lightning led me to chase
storms all over the Sonoran Desert and soon thereafter, into the Great Plains
of the United States. In 1999, my photo lab gave me the name, Lightning Lady.

There is a special place in my heart for Kansas, Nebraska, and the rest of Tornado
Alley, but the Sonoran Desert Monsoon is the highlight of my year. Aside from
June 15-September 30, the official "Monsoon Season", I explore the Sonoran
all throughout the year in utmost appreciation for the wild desert places,
the clever plants and animals, and the mind-boggling terrain.

Whether in the Sonoran or one's own unique environment, I think that all people
are drawn to wild things, universal things like Nature, animals, mountain climbing,
ocean voyages, astronomy or weather. Have you ever wondered why? I believe it is simple.
Deep down, we are wild as well."

Strom loves the desert, the outdoors, and enjoys conducting lightning photography
displays for two of her favorite Arizona wildparks, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum
near Superior, Arizona (arboretum.ag.arizona.edu) and the McDowell Mountain
Regional Park, a Maricopa County park (www.maricopa.gov/parks), located in the
Lower Verde Valley near the town of Fountain Hills, Arizona. "The Sonoran Desert
contains extraordinary plant and animal life. I truly hope these parks
are preserved forever, for the enjoyment of visitors for years to come."

Strom's work is published worldwide. Media work includes appearances
on The Weather Channel, Fox, NBC, ABC affiliates, Belo, Gannett Media newspapers,
Cities West and more. Publishings include Twin Lights, Arizona Highways,
University of Arizona, NASA, Sierra Club, Smith-Southwestern,
Frazier Racing, Accord, and Cyberwit of India.

Strom has a BA in Graphic Design from California State University Sacramento.
Her background by trade is design, photography and journalism for print and magazine.

La fotografía de relámpago de Arizona, los Estados Unidos
La photographie d'éclair d'Arizona, USA
Blitzfotografie von Arizona
Lynfotografi av Arizona
De bliksem fotografie van Arizona