I just did a few simple photoshop tests, blocking out the visible light and lightening the remaining darkness...and analyzing the dark areas after having trimmed out the lights. Vy interesting, however inconclusive. There is a lot going on in those photos that the naked eye can't picked (master of the obvious, eh :), there are less powerful lights that are drowned out by the ones that are visible. Might be reflections on a surface or on moisture in the air.
Also, the colors in both photos are basically identical when broken down into groupings.
You said it was lightening when you took your photo, was it raining in the area you photographed or was it dry?
I didn't take the photo, it was taken in Greene County (somewhere near Dayton in Southern Ohio),you'll find more information in the link below;
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page1105.html