What is This - Laser Show or After Effects of Lightning Storm in Fort Worth Texas?
Source: youtube.com
News links Related to the video
'Fireballs' reported in east Fort Worth - star-telegram.com
Lightning sparks electricity 'fireballs' - msnbc.com
'Fireballs' reported in east Fort Worth - istockanalyst.com
npr.org
Description text from youtube
This is the aftermath of a pretty brutal thunderstorm in Fort Worth Texas on May 10, 2011. It was taken from my balcony on the 34th floor of a building in Fort Worth. Though I thought we were at war or was terrorism, it was a massive series of downed 7,200 volt power lines. As I took it with my 70-200 2.8L IS lens, it is farther away than it looks. (it is 5 miles away) That is why there are not explosion sounds. This was a very well documented event. I was on my balcony to take lightning pictures (Yes, not smart) and this started happening in front of me. I turned my camera (Canon 5d MkII) to video mode and let it roll.
I did just realize this evening that the video is doubled. (others pointed it out in their comments) One video is duplicated. It happened when I was reducing the file size. I would up with the video duplicated. I would like to fix it. (remove the second half) but don't think I can. I would have to delete and and post another. If somebody knows how I can edit the video (cut out the second half) please let me know. Anyway, I have way more than enough footage still unposted. I will start posting my other videos.
I have been reading the comments. I would like to answer some questions.
It is not fake. It is not doctored. (you are giving my video skills too much credit, thanks.) As you can see by all the other lights, it is not taken with an IR setup or something. It is simple a video of an expensive weather disaster. The explosions are along a 4 mile path. They look closer together because this was 5 miles away zoomed in. (News links inserted below)
If this was fake, I would have put in some good explosion sounds, not birds. (I probably could handle that technically.) This IS NOT FAKE IN ANY MANNER.
It is not a function of lens flair, though I do believe the rain made the illumination more visible than it would have been. What this video does not show well is that the clouds above were illuminated with it all.
I am prepared to have a lab analyze this video for authenticity. Believe me. What you are looking at is a video camera set up on my tripod on my balcony. Period. No colors added, not special effects, no sounds. I do not even know how to adjust a video for brightness or contrast. (I am a photo guy, not a video guy.)
Anybody doubting the facts only needs to check the news sources or the power company. (Encore Electric) for verification. Luckily, hundreds of people watched it all. I have video of lots of emergency vehicle arriving to deal with the resultant fires.
Also, this is actually just 1 of 5 videos taken. I will post the others when I get time. I am not sure this is even the best video I have. Too easy to verify it all.
For all of you that complimented my video, and believe it is what is seems to be, thank you. NOT FAKE. 100% Real. Stand by for my other videos. I am not saying doubters do not have a right to doubt. Just that they are wrong. (by claiming fake really reaffirms how amazing the sight was.)
BTW, I did get my wife to reduce the file size of my video radically before I could squeeze it on to YOUTUBE without an error. (on her Mac i-video) My camera takes multi gig clips. It can only take videos for 4 minutes at a time before it overheats. (See Canon web site.)
Somebody said, "Why no reflection on the skyscraper in view?" Just the wrong angle. In one on my videos there is a reflection in the building from one of this blasts that was further to the left.
Source: youtube.com
