This image was widely distributed around the internet during 2003.
Many photographers are claiming they captured this photograph and it has been the subject of much criticism claiming the photo is fake. We can assure you the image is not fake, but it is enhanced. We can also assure you that the photograph was taken in Canberra, Australia on 16 January 2003.
If people would like to purchase a copy of the image they can email their order to BicaProlab - proceeds are automatically forwarded to the Canberra Bushfire Recovery Appeal established by the ACT Government for fire victims of the 2003 disaster
Image was captured with a digital camera late on 16/1/03 NOT 8/1/03 (verifiable by examining the EXIF data embedded in the image)
This lightning strike is not related to the firestorm that ultimately engulfed parts of Canberra on 18/1/03 but was taken during the time the fires were burning
Because of the difficult lighting conditions under which it was taken, it is an 'enhanced' re-sampled image and to this extent cannot be considered a completely accurate record of the actual meteorological event, however the photo is basically correct
The photographer's objective was to portray the acrid oppressive atmosphere and awesome power of nature that engulfed Canberra and southern NSW early in 2003
It is one of the most widely distributed iconic images of the 2003 NSW/ACT fire tragedy
The origin of the image was widely publicised in several articles in The Canberra Times and on ABC Radio in 2003 and on the web - see the ABC radio news website.
The views expressed on this site do not necessarily
reflect the views or the policies of the NSW Rural Fire Service
