# THE PERSEID CONNECTION (+revised) **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, landscape, astro\ **Created:** [September 14, 2026, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268 "2026-09-14T13:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Karl\_Zuzarte](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Karl\_Zuzarte](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Karl_Zuzarte)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/1 "2026-09-14T13:15:42Z")
## Revised Version ### Revision 1 (latest) ![Revision 1 - _DSC5849-E3a.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/1/c/1cb45d0bf53c2d83c32a5823a65400491b9f08a3.jpeg) **What changed:** LLC fence removed and cloud above lightning exposure reduced _Added after receiving feedback from the community._ * * * ## Original Version ![Original - _DSC5849-E3.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/c/8/c8bfccc19dfac145b267cd40f1f5f445d63cc779.jpeg) **Critique Style:** Standard The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below. **Feedback Focus:** Artistic / Expressive ### About This Image One of those really lucky nights at the Montezuma pass in southern Arizona. Storms passing through making the Milky way visible, lightning bolts gslore and a Perseid meteor to boot! I was making a Timelapse and so have about 1500 images from that night ### Feedback Requested This is a landscape turned portrait since there is a manmade tower on the left ### Technical Details Camera: NIKON Z 9 Lens: NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Focal length: 24mm Shutter speed: 4s Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 5000 Processing software: LR Major adjustments: nothing significant Blending/stacking: Other notes: short exposure to maximize star sharpness - exposure 1.5 stops increase with Denoise used ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/2 "2026-09-14T15:32:27Z")
You’ve been having some great opportunities lately, Karl. Getting all three together is amazing. I notice that when you cropped to remove the tower, you still have a chunk of the surrounding fence, which, if your ethics allow, you might want to remove. I think the brightest parts of the clouds could stand to come down a trifle. Even if they’re not blown, they are so much brighter than the rest of the frame that they kind of lock my eyes in place. Still a stunning image as posted. ---
**Author:** ![Preston\_Birdwell](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/preston_birdwell/32/374_2.png) [@Preston\_Birdwell](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Preston_Birdwell)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/3 "2026-09-14T18:01:57Z")
That’s a pretty darn spectacular scene, Karl. The processing looks very nice, but I do agree with @Dennis_Plank regarding that bit of fence on the left and the brightness of the thunder cloud. It always amazes me the amount of intra-cloud lightning that occurs. Well done, sir! -P ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/4 "2026-09-14T18:27:51Z")
Wonderful catch! I think the MW is very nicely processed but I agree with @Dennis_Plank and @Preston_Birdwell about the brightness of the cloud, although it probably was that bright relative to the sky. I love the soft light in the distant hills where the bolt is striking. I’m not clear, as you mention 1500 exposures, if you managed to catch the lightning and the meteor in the same frame or if this is a composite? ---
**Author:** ![Karl\_Zuzarte](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Karl\_Zuzarte](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Karl_Zuzarte)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/5 "2026-09-14T21:17:29Z")
Here is a revised version Thanks @Dennis_Plank @Preston_Birdwell @Diane_Miller This is one of the 1500 exposures - not a composite - there are a few with meteors placed differently but none of those have a decent lightning bolt ![_DSC5849-E3a](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/1/c/1cb45d0bf53c2d83c32a5823a65400491b9f08a3.jpeg) evised version ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/6 "2026-09-14T22:37:37Z")
Nice job on the revised version, Karl. You might want to note that a recent change to the site is the addition of a button at the top of your original post that you can click on to upload a revised version. It puts it on the top, labels it as by revision number and gives you a blank to tell what you changed. Since it becomes part of the original post it’s easy for people to toggle back and forth between revisions. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Lowe](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael_lowe/32/7118_2.png) [@Michael\_Lowe](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Michael_Lowe)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2026, 3:48am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/7 "2026-09-15T03:48:16Z")
I think you nailed it with the revision. ---
**Author:** ![Preston\_Birdwell](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/preston_birdwell/32/374_2.png) [@Preston\_Birdwell](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Preston_Birdwell)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/8 "2026-09-15T21:52:27Z")
> [@Michael\_Lowe](#): > > I think you nailed it with the revision. @Karl_Zuzarte I agree with Michael. the cloud looks much nicer and removing that bit of fence improves the composition. -P ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/9 "2026-09-15T23:17:59Z")
Karl: What a spectacular show and equally special capture. I’ll second @Dennis_Plank’s advice regarding revisions. You can still do it or at the least edit your title to let folks know you’ve made some changes so they can revisit. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Elizabeth](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/elizabeth/32/69090_2.png) [@Elizabeth](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/10 "2026-09-16T00:09:13Z")
I can’t offer any useful feedback, but I think this is an incredible shot! ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/11 "2026-09-16T02:20:24Z")
Wow, Karl what an absolutely amazing image! The original was great and the revision even better. Great job! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/system/32/86481_2.png) [@system](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/12 "2026-09-16T20:24:47Z")
The original poster added a [revised version](#post_1) of their image. ---
**Author:** ![Karl\_Zuzarte](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Karl\_Zuzarte](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Karl_Zuzarte)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/13 "2026-09-16T20:26:38Z")
Thank you @Dennis_Plank for pointing out how to upload a revised version for better comparison Thanks also to @timothy3 @Preston_Birdwell @Bill_Fach @Diane_Miller @Michael_Lowe for your generous observations! ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-perseid-connection-revised/52268/14 "2026-09-20T17:42:58Z")
Outstanding planning and hard work paid off with a unique capture of both a lightning bolt and a meteor trail!