Literal Storm Flees East as a Figurative Storm Brews at Embermine. A Reflection on August 10th. (Original Photo)

This is not a sad post, don't worry my Steemy cohorts. My @steemit will generally be a happy place. Though I can't promise we won't get a little weird here and there. It is simply an homage to the day/night that I took this photo which is proving to be more significant with every day. The figurative storm is a positive storm. A discernible energy. A fresh energy. Energy with purpose aligned in a single direction. UP. Like the ***damn Wonkavator. Up and Out. Untethered, untamed, exhilarating energy.

But first, the literal storm. Because I know you guys like cool things that are nice to look at.
(Though chronologically it was second)

I'd been off work for a couple hours and was hanging out, relaxing, all cool with a buddy of mine playing Rocket League or something. If I remember right he was sufficiently annoyed by my babbling on about the figurative storm that began to take its shape earlier that day at work by the time I left for home around 11. Only I didn't go home. Invigorated with the days happenings I decided to instead chase the literal storm that had just rolled through Lincoln. I'd been telling myself to get out and shoot all summer long, and have made it out with the lens a few times, but excuses were easy and several.

I decided this night was going to be different. So I reminded myself I can sleep when I die, swooped my camera and Eastward I went. Had I been quicker with my decision I could have captured some neat shots much closer to the storm but the bastard was booking it. The lightning bugs however were incredible and provided an interesting foreground element, the storm shrinking beyond the horizon. I'd never seen them in such numbers. I've taken some night shots before, but until this night I didn't truly realize how challenging it can be. The worst part is having to take maximum exposures so you are looking at a max of maybe 100 shots continuously snapping back to back. And then your money-shot lighting bolt strikes in the 2 seconds you are viewing each one. Eventually a low camera battery and low gas brought the excursion to an involuntary end so I headed home, not really sure what to expect from the approaching Lightroom import. With the short trip I maybe left only 25 shots and maybe 3 are even worth a glance.

The shot I'm sharing here is by definition an anomaly within the scope of that shoot. Not saying this is intended to break the internet. I've seen what people have done with night photography. It was just so much better than the rest of the crop its almost comedic. My tri-pod is garbage yet at that moment decided to somewhat actually do its job. And it chose a good time to do so. Wish I could have had a lot more time that night I can't help but feel like I left some awesome shots out there. Like striking out with the bases loaded for the 3rd out. I also should note that this is of course not how the original shot looked and lots of light and color correcting have been done in post processing. If you are a professional photographer and do not explain process and development of your shots, especially if compositing two images, shame on you.

Well this has become longer than expected already so I won't bore too much with part 2.

My figurative storm is crypto. If you happened to read my belated introductory post you know that I recently began a job with a tech startup in the cryptocurrency realm. Prior to this I had MINIMAL knowledge of the space. Today I am holding 10 currencies and starting to immerse myself in the wild and crazy world of trading crypto. The energy I referred to was and is not derived from the potential to make a good sum of money off of these coins. If I can do that, great. The real magic here folks, what has kept me coming into work every day more passionate than the last, is the brilliant minds, ideas, and projects behind each of these currencies promising to change life as we know it in a positive way. These are also core values of ours here @embermine and a major reason we have embarked on this crazy quest to cryptoland.

PS. I am planning a post covering more about who we are and our vision at Embermine and our surrounding ecosystem of projects so stay tuned!

Til then sexy Steemers,

Dude out.