"Lightning bolts appear above and around the Chaiten volcano as seen from Chana, some 30 kms (19 miles) north of the volcano, as it began its first eruption in thousands of years, in southern Chile May 2, 2008. Cases of electrical storms breaking out directly above erupting volcanoes are well documented, although scientists differ on what causes them. Picture taken May 2, 2008. (Carlos Gutierrez)"
the reason the lightning is going through the ash cloud is because the lightning is trying to find the quickest route to the ground and the ash is basically powder rocks which are composed of conductive elements.... I feel so nerdy
thats not photo shop thats what happens when a volcano erupts in the rite place all lghtning is is an elecrto static dishcharge all that smoke and ash is like a giant dust ball it heats up causes friction and there ya go a freak electrical storm
lightning is created by cold and hot clouds combining it causes small lumps of irregular ice and snow flakes, they collide and create a charge, when it builds up the charge reaches the ground i.e. lightning. replace snow and ice with volcanic ash and there you have it. not photoshoped its a fact