Five 1890s Lightning Photos Taken by Samuel W. Bridgham

Five 1890s Lightning Photographs by Samuel W. Bridgham
 
This group of five photographs represents some of the earliest known images of lightning ever captured. With only a handful of verified lightning photographs taken as early as 1882, Bridgham’s work from the early 1890s stands among the pioneering achievements in both photography and scientific documentation.
 
Samuel W. Bridgham was not merely a photographer—he was a master of lightning photography, renowned for his ability to capture the raw power and complexity of electrical storms at a time when such images were extraordinarily difficult to produce. All five photographs are original works by Bridgham. Three prominently feature the iconic windmill that appears frequently in his lightning studies, a recurring motif in his body of work. One photograph also bears Bridgham’s name impressed directly into the image, a hallmark often found on his photographs.
The photographic cards are notably large, with most measuring approximately 8.25 × 10.5 inches