Photography by ©Jeff Miles

A nice example of lightning comming out of cumulonimbus anvil - I've heard that you can even be hit hundreds of kilometres away (but it's extremely unlikely).

Additionally, I know that during thunderstorms it is very dangerous just to stay in contact with metals or water. This is why I never go out (or open windows) when I take photos of lightning from my flat. But... I have seen several amazing captures of lightning by storm chasers. How is it that they are so close to lightning, but do not get struck? Is there any trick or are they simply risking their lives?

I've considered how lightning strikes, and drew this image. In this situation it seems that there are three possible targets. I drew a radius around each object because it my intuition suggests it would work like this. If so, then the building on top of the hill has the highest probability of being struck.

If the lightning bolt hits the object closest to its path, could we completely protect ourselves from being struck by staying RELATIVELY close to some much taller objects, so that they would cover the sky around us with their large radius?

I would like to stay in safe, but take some beautiful photos of lightning too. I know everyone says that "during lightning storms you should never stand under trees". But if located right, can you actually be protected from danger like this? Or what practices are truly the best way to stay safe while photographing lightning storms?