The magnificence of lightning storms is hard to catch and easily ignored. But these beautiful photographs give us a chance to admire the beauty of nature that is so easily missed.

Hurricane Ike was a Category 4 hurricane, with wind speeds of up to 145 mph. It was apparently the most severe storm thus far in 2008. The damage done by Ike is estimated to up be up to $27 billion along the coastal areas of US. Here is what’s left after Hurricane Ike passes through.