Sydney - 10

Lightning is always an extraordinary phenomena to observe. It most commonly occurs in large Cumulonimbus clouds, and while it is still the subject of study, it is commonly agreed to be caused by water and ice crystals colliding and transferring electrical charges in the enormous updrafts within the storm. Heavy negatively charged water and hail sinks to the bottom of the cloud while lighter positively charged ice crystals are carried to the top, creating an immense difference in electrical charge between the top and bottom of the cloud, and the Earth beneath. The lightning we see occurs when a sudden and tremendous flow of electricity occurs to equalize the different charges.

This image was captured on a humid evening when an easterly wind was lifting moisture up into the atmosphere and feeding late night storms, creating an impressive light show over the already striking Sydney skyline. The humid air also condensed into a small cloud trail as it flowed over some of the taller buildings in the city. 

It is always breathtaking to see such an immense force of nature, and even more so to capture it in an image.