lack of reflected highlights

[raj]

I would like to make an observation that I don't believe has been made previously in these posts. In switching quickly between the photos before and during the "flash", I don't see any reflected highlights or increase in illumination of surfaces surrounding the area of the coincident pole or mast on the pier. There is a slight increase in overall illumination due to the increasing reflective area of the cloud in the background as it billows at its top, but that's all I notice. Surely some surrounding object or a wave would have reflected a portion of the light from a flash if it had occured in the vicinity of the pier. Unless someone can show evidence of reflected light in the photo, I would reject the theory that any of the recorded event occured near the pier. From my experience with photography, the bug theory holds the most water.