Thrill of the chase behind electric photos

THUNDERSTORMS across the Darling Downs provided perfect material for the region’s snappers, who took some incredible photographs.

Amateur storm-chaser and photographer Grant Rolph was standing in Hodgson Vale early on Wednesday night when he captured the shot on our front page.

The full-time plumber created the photo by shooting a series of 15-second photos, then stacking the best shots together.

“I was at Hodgson Vale, just south of Toowoomba,” he said. “I live in East Toowoomba and I did a couple of hundred kilometres (last night).

“It’s been edited, but it’s a realistic view of what the camera saw. It’s similar to a time-lapse.”

Mr Rolph has been chasing summer storms for about five years, and said he enjoyed the thrill of seeing nature in action.

“I’m an amateur photographer and it’s just the actual enjoyment of watching the storms,” he said.

“Some nights I’m travelling 600-800km and don’t get back until late. I’ll be heading back out again tonight if the wife lets me.”

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a slight chance of storms today. “For Toowoomba, the maximum will be 27°C (today), with a chance of showers and a small chance of a thunderstorm later in the afternoon,” forecaster Mark Trenorden said.