Lightning

[Calichis]

While roadtripping across the country we hit a NASTY storm in Utah. I was SO pumped to get a picture of the lightning with my crappy point and shoot camera. The before picture was obviously pretty crappy - so I tried to make something usable out of it. What do you think?
Before:

After:

I think it has a bit of a whimsical feel - all the haze in the sky is rain. It was nuts.
I did a crop, made a new layer with soft light, sharpened it some, did some colour and level adjustments. There were some layer masks too.

[Mstee4eva]

Truthfully, I like the 1st one better! ';0)...

[phytolacca]

I like the second one if for nothing else the sake of the crop. Also the color gives it a trippy hunter s. thompson feel

[oriolhdz]

Hi Calichis:
I like both. IMHO in the first picture I will try to get out of the dull gray. And in the second one, the grain effect I think it can be taken off.
This proves you can always get a good picture no matter what kind of camera we own. A the end, what it matters is the photographer!

[Ecirish]

I agree with phytolacca in that the second one is superior for the crop. I see what you're going for though, reminds me of the doomsday movies "andromeda strain" "resident evil extinction(yea i saw it :P)"

[drec]

crop the first one like the 2nd. in the 2nd the lightning gets lost in brightness where it strikes the ground.

[Calichis]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[syirus]

Just curious where in Utah was the photo taken, I am from southern Utah.

[private]

From the pic - its NOT a crappy P&S camera I like the forst onne the bst - if it was cropped like the second one.