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05/11/2006 06:47:00 PM · #1 |
| With summer rappidly approaching, that means that the afternoon lightending storms cant be too far behind. I was just wondering if anyone has had any luck capturing lightending strikes, and what they did to do it. (especially since you never know where they will be so where do you focus what shutter speed works well, etc.) |
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05/11/2006 06:52:49 PM · #2 |
Daytime is the most difficult time to capture lightning, since you can't use really long exposures. You have to time it right. Set up on a tripod, use a small aperture, like f/16, and low ISO so that you can use a longer exposure. Use a remote release to avoid camera shake. Take test exposures to get the exposure right, and use manual setting (shutter and aperture). Frame the shot, using the last strikes as an indicator as to where to point. As soon as you see the first flash of the next strike, hit the remote trigger button. Fast reaction in critical.
You'll be amazed that, because there are usually multiple flashes in a "strike", you'll often get good images this way. Nighttime is easier, you can leave the shutter open for long periods and catch whatever happens within the exposure.
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05/11/2006 06:55:32 PM · #3 |
Or get the Canon wired remote, lock the shutter release in the open position and the camera will take constant exposures until the card is full.... one of em will be perfect! heheee that's how I do self-portraits :P
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05/11/2006 06:57:01 PM · #4 |
Yea if it is dark you can just set it to 20 or 30 second exposures and keep hitting the button after each shot.
if you are luckey there will be many stikes inthat time such as this one by M.O.C.
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05/11/2006 06:57:05 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by idnic:
Or get the Canon wired remote, lock the shutter release in the open position and the camera will take constant exposures until the card is full.... one of em will be perfect! heheee that's how I do self-portraits :P |
If I could cram a 400GB hard drive in the CF slot, and shoot self portraits until full, I don't think I'd get a good one, LOL.
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05/11/2006 06:58:32 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
If I could cram a 400GB hard drive in the CF slot, and shoot self portraits until full, I don't think I'd get a good one, LOL. |
Hahahahaaaa Now that's not true, you look great as Jean Luc ;)
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05/11/2006 07:05:13 PM · #7 |
I just took my first lightning pic last week. It's easier than you think..just takes a little practice and patients.. |
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05/11/2006 08:25:36 PM · #8 |
are you a doctor? remind me not to visit your practice. i've been hit by lightening once - no way i am going to volunteer to be the grounding rod !
i think you may have meant patience...? ;}
Originally posted by Intelli:
I just took my first lightning pic last week. It's easier than you think..just takes a little practice and patients |
Message edited by author 2006-05-11 20:27:20.
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05/11/2006 08:38:02 PM · #9 |
30 second exposures work great!
  
lol and if you don't have a tripod use a high shutter speed, so as soon as you see a light you take the photo (actually its very hard I got lucky)
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05/15/2006 02:35:19 AM · #10 |
Technically, shooting lightning is pretty easy (at night that is)....just stabilize your camera, use low iso and long shutter speeds (and a shutter release cable), and i like to shoot at f/11.
The most important aspect to improving your lightning photography is good location scouting. Determine where would be a good place to shoot so that when the storm is arriving you know where you're headed rather than driving around looking for the shot during the height of action. The farther your scope the more safely you can shoot the storm.
I typically shoot from my car. This image was shot using a "magic arm" clamped to a handle in the roof of my car. The great thing about this is that I can shoot from the relative safety of my car and I can position the camera to shoot out the passenger window, rear passenger window, and the sunroof relatively quickly (though I obviously don't shoot through the roof when storms are near :))
Also, keep an eye on your local radar. I access weather.com radar info on my cell phone to see when I can expect storms and where they are coming from. It also helps to tell me when I can pack up and head home.
Almost forgot....shoot RAW....with the long dark exposures you won't have tremendous leeway as far as exposure, but you will undoubtedly increase your keeper ratio....
Message edited by author 2006-05-15 03:09:33. |
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05/15/2006 03:24:06 AM · #11 |
I'd love to capture some lighting shots, but I'm rather afraid of the confetti of hot pixels that awaits me if I leave my shutter open for 30 seconds.
Are all of these excellent lightning shots captured and then heavily 'healed' or are hot pixels really not a concern for most? |
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05/15/2006 03:37:49 AM · #12 |
the adjustments made to my image were crop and curves. No healing at all...though I wish that ship hadn't been in the frame causing the blured streak below the bridge. In ACR i also boosted the exposure by 2/3 stop.
edit....forgot....for this I did burn the very top portion of clouds (top 1/10 photo) about 4%
Message edited by author 2006-05-15 03:39:57. |
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05/15/2006 09:03:15 AM · #13 |
these pictures look great. almost make me wish we had lightings here in iceland (2 per year dont count)
are there thunderstorms in america in begning of august too?? then i might be able to take pictures :D
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05/15/2006 09:29:54 AM · #14 |
Lighning seems to be the hot topic of the day
This on the front page
and this other thread in the forums
More Lightning Talk
Steve |
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05/15/2006 11:47:49 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by kollaosk:
are there thunderstorms in america in begning of august too?? then i might be able to take pictures :D |
Depends on where you're headed....the hot summer months see a huge increase in cloud-ground strikes here in the southern US....so if you're headed here you'll have a great chance of getting a shot.
Message edited by author 2006-05-15 12:12:46. |
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05/15/2006 02:23:11 PM · #16 |
i will me mainly up in michigan and wisconsin.. then we will drive down to kentucky... oh i cant whait im so exited... and scared..lol
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05/15/2006 02:27:32 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Elvis_L:
Yea if it is dark you can just set it to 20 or 30 second exposures and keep hitting the button after each shot.
if you are luckey there will be many stikes inthat time such as this one by M.O.C.
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Now THAT is a smite!! |
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05/15/2006 02:31:56 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by jaxsond:
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Hey jax... I've been there... only it wasn't storming for me! Great shot!
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05/17/2006 10:02:53 PM · #19 |
| thanks for the comment PP .... and nice shot of the bridge....it's great that you got the old bridge in your shot too......or most of it atleast! |
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05/17/2006 10:17:44 PM · #20 |
 Day time shots,I estimate when the next strike will hit, guess where and set my camera a couple f-stops down. Then shoot continuesly, erase and keep shooting. You'll get lucky. This one was after approx. 10 shots.
Night time. Tripod, set camera on bulb, cable-release, keep shutter open until you have enought strikes to look good, and repeat.
spell edit
Message edited by author 2006-05-17 22:18:25. |
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