Reynaert says that capturing the perfect scene takes patience, luck, and a lot of film. “I shot three or four rolls for this single image,” says the salesman from Lede, Belgium. “I was very lucky because I intended to get fairly traditional sunset shots from the rim of the Grand Canyon. Then this electrifying storm whipped up and took me by surprise.” But Reynaert was ready with a tripod and gobs of film. “Because of the unique quality of light, and the unpredictable nature of the lightning, I knew that I needed to concentrate on exposure. I finally got my timing right with this shot, on about a five-second exposure,” he explains.

Camera: Nikon F5; lens: 35-70mm zoom with polarizing filter;
film: Fujichrome Velvia

Trip courtesy of Lindblad Special Expeditions and American Airlines