Sprites
Taken by Rob Gallucci on June 13, 2026 @
Elgin, Arizona
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Camera Used: Canon Canon EOS R5
Exposure Time: 95/10
Aperture: Unavailable
ISO: 5000
Date Taken: 2026:06:15 07:54:19
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Details:
I have photographed storms, lightning, and the Milky Way for many years, but this was one of the most exciting nights I have experienced behind a camera.
On the night of June 12–13, 2026, I set up near Elgin, Arizona to monitor powerful thunderstorms in northern Mexico approximately 125 miles (201 km) away. Conditions were ideal: a new moon, clear Arizona skies, and intense convection across the border.
Over the course of the night, I recorded 28 transient luminous events, including sprites, an ELVE, and what may be a rare ghost. The highlight was this jellyfish sprite appearing beneath the Milky Way while a possible ghost formed above it. When I saw the image on the back of the camera, I was literally jumping around in the desert like a little kid.
What makes this image especially meaningful to me is that it combines two of my passions: photographing the night sky and documenting severe weather. Capturing a bright jellyfish sprite beneath the Milky Way, with a possible ghost above it, is something I never expected to witness in a single frame.
Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Lens: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Exposure: [fill in exposure]
ISO: [fill in ISO]
Location: Near Elgin, Arizona, USA
Photographer's website:
https://www.rgallucciworkshops.com
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