The rainy season is upon us, along with a bit of help from Invest 93/Tropical storm Alex. While the closest approach of the center was about 150 miles south of Cayman, we did get rain, rain and more rain for a couple days.
During the dry season, there is a very light, continual mist of salt spray the is being deposited over the island. It builds up and up and without the rains, would eventually poison the land. The rains wash and dilute this salt spray so it cannot harm the vegetation. It was needed as we are coming out of a long dry season. Of course, all vegetation is looking green and the grass is growing like crazy! The mosquitoes are out in force (usually happens 3 days after the rains) but the brisk winds are keeping them under control. Most everyone is keeping an eye out for weather disturbances coming off Africa and entering the Caribbean Sea.
All our preparations are finalized. Hurricane shutters installed, generator tested, fuel stocked up and supplies are enough to keep ug going for a coule weeks if needed.
Chickens are as normal, fruit trees are growing and everyone is healthy and alive.
Mango season is starting to wind down (shame). While I did not produce as many as in other years, I did manage to eat my fill a few times.
With the storms that have been passing by, I have had a greater than normal interest in photography - mainly lightning photography. These (like all photographs) are stolen fractions of a second in life. I am sure the neighbours are wondering what I am doing with a camera in the dark but so far, no one has asked so Iam not telling.
Lightning photography can be done two ways - continual long exposures hoping you catch a flash or with the help of a lightning trigger. Thankfully, I chose the trigger method.
A lightning flash lasts for up to 1/4 second (250 milliseconds). Triggering the camera by hand, you stand a very great chance of not being fast enough to record anything. With the lightning trigger, it detects the flash through a phototransistor and triggers the camera (usually in under 100 milliseconds), allowing you to capture the strike. The only problem is to make sure that you are pointing the camera in the right direction.
My only concerns have to do with the lay of the land and the two electrical wires that run in front of the house.
Cayman is very flat! Therefore, you cannot find a location that allows you to overlook a valley or a mountain to get the complete cloud to ground flash. But, I think that I did OK! Pictures are straight from the camera - no editing or cropping.
