Lightning Strike

Here is this week's Weekly3D! In an attempt at learning to get better with lights and particles, I've made a lightning bolt! I first uploaded a WIP, but since then, I have spent much time learning various things, such as particles and render outputs! Render outputs are a blessing for post-editing. How did I live without them?

PS: render time took 2 hrs, 37 minutes...

Also, I did NOT make the trees. I made everything else :D. Major creds to Andeciuala for adding the tree to the Foundry assets. Link is here:
http://community.thefoundry.co.uk/asset/meshes/view.aspx?id=1613

Software used: Modo and Photoshop