Rare sprite storm image taken in France shared by NASA

A photograph taken by a self-taught photographer based in the Alpes-Maritimes has been shared by NASA after it captured a rare atmospheric phenomenon above the Côte d’Azur.

Sylvain Reybaut, who lives in Vence, saw one of his images reposted on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) Facebook page earlier this year. 

The photograph shows red luminous flashes known as ‘sprites’, or farfadets in French, appearing high above a storm system near Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The photograph was taken from La Colle-sur-Loup during a summer thunderstorm.

“It is a wonderful recognition of my work,” Mr Reybaut said, speaking to The Connexion.

Sprites are short-lived electrical discharges that occur high above storm clouds, rather than between clouds and the ground like conventional lightning. 

Invisible to the naked eye and lasting only a fraction of a second, they are difficult to detect and even harder to photograph without careful preparation.

Preparation for photos

Mr Reybaut, who has spent several years documenting storms and rare light phenomena such as auroras, said the image was the result of detailed planning rather than chance.

“I anticipate areas where storm conditions are favourable, prepare shooting angles based on the landscape, the distance and direction of the storms, and then film the sky over long sequences when all the conditions come together,” he said. 

“Sprites are extremely brief, so you either have to stay focused on the screen during the storm or review the footage frame by frame afterwards.”

While sprites are more commonly observed over parts of Italy, the Mediterranean islands and the Balearics where storms tend to be longer-lasting, they are relatively rare along the Côte d’Azur, although can be seen across France.

The local storm season typically runs from March to September.

Mr Reybaut says he has photographed around 100 sprites in the region over the past year.

Over time, he has noticed recurring patterns in their appearance. “Certain shapes come back regularly,” he said. “Carrot-shaped sprites, angel-like forms, jellyfish sprites, and more dynamic structures sometimes referred to as ‘dancing sprites’.”

He added that the most favourable conditions are often linked to particularly intense storms. 

“The storms that produce sprites are usually extremely powerful and stationary, sometimes very violent,” he said. 

“Unfortunately, they can also be associated with disasters on the ground, such as flooding, major damage, or even loss of life. It is a reminder that these spectacular images are connected to natural phenomena that can be dangerous.

“What drives me is the idea of showing what really exists above us but remains invisible to our eyes. At night, the sky often seems calm, almost motionless, when in reality it is very active.”

Observe the world differently

He sees his work as an invitation to slow down and observe more closely. 

“It is about looking differently and remembering that what matters most isn’t always visible at first glance,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mr Reybaut plans to continue expanding his work. He has used the winter months to scout new locations that would allow different landscapes to feature in his compositions, and is planning a trip to Greece later this year to photograph storms over the Aegean Sea, an area known for particularly strong atmospheric activity at that time of year.

For photographers hoping to capture similar phenomena, his advice is simple.

“You have to be very patient,” he said. “You need to accept spending many nights without capturing anything, often coming back empty-handed. Observation always comes before photography.”