Welcome Craig and a neat first post!
Lightning does and can strike the same location or object more than once. There is a vast difference between lightning flashes that pulse (as we see it) to actual repeated hits to one thing. The so-called myth is spun rom when we see lightning strikes that pulse several times at the time of observation. In essence this looks as if it is striking several times, but it is not, it is the return strokes that illuminate the channel as the thunderstorm discharges its energy earthward.
What your images show are lightning flashes that are simply striking in the same area, not necessarily the same object again and again. Lightning that in fact strikes the same object repeatedly - aka the first stike was completed with return stroke{s} and finishes, then another new flash strikes the same object again some seconds later even from a discharge not close to the object. Video footage would have been more of assistance for obvious reasons!
Scientists refer to a lightning strike as a 'flash' because that's technically what it is as we cannot see the initial 'strike' becuase it happens so fast to the naked eye. So just to give some info on this...
Thunderstorms have three regions of charge. Positive at the base, negative in the middle and positive in the upper regions, BUT they have the ability to reverse their polarity due to certain lightning strikes, either - or +. A large percentage of lightning is +, regardless of where you see it eminate. Only with polarity instruments and other devices can you determine what charge type it is - visually you can ascertain that if it eminates from the top of the storm it is more likely + etc, etc because that's where the pool of + charge is carried during a storm's lifecycle. So in fact a visible lightning strike may well be originally + but secondary strokes may be - and so on!
There are several types of leaders that initiate a flash..or strike. Stepped leaders, connecting leaders, recoil leaders, dart leaders, avalanches, and with all sorts of other phenomena such as trident leaders etc that can determine what type of flash it was and the list goes on...still images can tell us what type of polarity it is, although quite difficult depending on how much leader movement/direction is captured.
Step leaders originate anywhere surrounding a thunderstorm, whether it be below, to the sides - whatever. They dart out for a distance of about 100m then dissipate, with othe leaders doing the same thing thousands of milliseconds in time...so these are the things we cannot see whilst we're out there in the open taking photos!
If a favorable path is found then during the return phase of the leader another leader takes its place and deepens the channel left by the previous one...kind of like drilling a channel in the air...one leader searches, leaves an empty canal and another leader may seize the opportunity and follow the same path. This continues right through the leader phase, and happens in hundreds of areas around the storm. Every intracloud or cloud base flash you see are these leaders punching their way ever so closer to ground, which is why I never stand out in the open taking photos...ever.
When these leaders reach about 100-200m above the ground a positive upward leader from earth reaches up towards this downward leader whereby a connecting leader completes the connection. The connection is made (something we do not see)and a return stroke discharging from the storm is seen, any subsequent pulses we see are repetetive return strokes from the storm to ground. This can be as little as one discharge or up to 14. Of course we may only see up to 5 or 6 bright return strokes but in actual fact it is much higher and high speed footage of more than 1500fps shows this. ANY object in the vicinity can be the connecting point. Throw out any misunderstandings that only tall objects get hit first, whilst they are more 'prone'to being a target, even your belt buckle or a rock next to your foot can be the targetted point of downward leaders...what makest he difference is whether the upward leader is strong enough to complete the connection. If the tree next to you does not have a strong upward leader then the old saying goes - the path of least resistence applies - so your shiny new watch or the fence in front of you certainly may have just what the downward leader is looking for!
I must add that I used to always stand out in the field taking photos...but since doing research on lightning there is absolutely no way in hell I stand out in the open if I can hear thunder or see lightning. As a lightning photographer I love being in the elements, but recent education and information from lightning physicists overseas has changed my outlook forever!
anyway...not to waffle to much...
In essence a lightning flash will indeed strike the same object twice if favorable conditions surround that same thing polarity wise. An electric field surrouns all things on this planet, no matter how small or large, how many times it gets struck is another matter! As mentioned earlier, tall objects are likely to get hit first - so if you are out in the bush try and find trees of similar height and stand under those but some distance from the tree next to you! Evidence as found that tall structures can protect each other from being hit. Some objects may be struck more times than a taller object next to it, which goes against the grain, but they have found that the electric field surrounding these objects (towers, communication antenna etc) actually repel any strikes because the polarity (like a magnet) is +,+ or -,- rather than -.+ so the connection is obviously favorable.
When lightning strikes the same region several times, such as your images show, that's something quite normal. I have seen large - and + CG's from the top of a thunderstorm dome strike the same region 12 times - repeatedly. Something I have never seen before. So many long dog leg discharges to the same area non-stop...incredible.
anyway hope this helps dispell any gossip!