Lightning photos - DPChallenge Forums

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/25/2003 09:20:48 PM · #1

Was out last night and we had another amazing lightning storm, we get rather spectacular ones here regularly, especially in the summer. In this case there was lightning going off ever second or so for hours.

So, I decided to have a play. Most pics were hopeless, here are a couple that were not. These have been resized, but other than that are direct off the camera.

Does anyone have any experience with lightning? I was trying all sorts of things and apart from a couple of lucky shots had little luck. For instance, what I learned by trial and error:

1) Long exposure, say 30", and as camera metered in the dark the pic is overexposed depending how many lightning shots there were. Also, being a small aperture it didn;t really catch the forks.

2) Short exposure ... would catch the forks but little chance of getting the right instant.

3) Wait for a fork and .... oops, missed it.

4) I set the ISO to 1600, as I thought I needed to catch the fork as fast as poss. This may have been completely wrong, I have no idea.

5) Use bulb setting, mid sized aperture, hold it open until a good fork and then release. Correct exposure is just a matter of luck as to how long shutter was open when fork happened.

I had most success, I believe, with the last option there.

Tips and tricks from anyone for next time?

Message edited by author 2003-10-25 21:22:38.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/25/2003 09:35:25 PM · #2

Photographing lightning certainly can be a challenge! You are on the right track. I usually use F8, ISO 100, set up on tripod with remote release. Use bulb and hit the botton when I see the first flash and hold until last flash is done. I sometimes find I need to adjust aperture from F8.
You get pretty good at it after a while, but it's still hit-and-miss.

I try to use a moderate focal length to capture more detail. I'll prolly try next year with the 50mm.

I'm a bit jealous, the very few really good lightning storms we got this year were in the wee hours, and so i am without any good lightning photos this year.

Message edited by author 2003-10-25 21:37:08.

tfaust

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/25/2003 11:35:15 PM · #3

This, among other things, is on my need to learn list. I commend you on some terrific photos! My favorite is the 1st one on your list. Excellent! :-)

RHoldenSr

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

10/25/2003 11:49:17 PM · #4

natator

Nice shots.
I tried to get some here in Texas the early part of summer and did not get one shot worth keeping. I was using my Oly C3030-Z.

We have not had any good storms since then that I have had the chance to shoot.

I' am going to try it again with my Canon E10D.
I use the self timer for right now.
But I plan on getting the remote as soon as I can.

I basically do it the same as Kirbic decribed.
Using my tripod, and I try to use F8 and smaller and ISO 100.

10/25/2003 11:52:41 PM · #5

Thanks for the comments people :)

It was luck more than anything, those are the only half decent ones from about 250 snaps. We were at a BBQ so I just stood chatting and hitting the shutter release periodically.

Next time I'll try with ISO 100 for sure. I was just thinking that a faster ISO might make it easier to catch the moment, but I think the reverse sounds true now.

Oh, Calvus .... I got my remote for the 10D last week, been on back order for 2 months. Makes far more difference than I would have believed (never having used one before) it is sensational :) Expensive for what it is, but an essential item I've now decided.

blacknstormy

10/26/2003 12:02:03 AM · #6

Natator - was a fantastic storm last night wasn't it?? Looks like we are in for another one this afternoon - have another go, and let us have a look at the shots tomorrow. I'm in Tarragindi, so will go out and try out lightning shots tonight :)
Have a good night
Rel

10/26/2003 12:10:36 AM · #7

Heya Blacknstormy :)

Yup, storm is brewing up now, heaps of thunder at least so far :)

Sleekr and I are both Brissy based, he was there last night but without camera.

We're long time friends and joined here together a few weeks ago. We get together every week or so to play cameras at the moment as we are both trying to learn, and here seems excellent for that.

He might be coming over later to play with the el-cheapo flood lights I just got for his challenge shot.

Ever get bored enough and want to meet up with us for a coffee or a days photo trip just drop me a line :)

As for tonight's storm ..... I am considering heading up to My Cootha as I can't get decent shots from where I live, but it depends what direction the storm is coming from for that to work. Also, last night we were lucky, storm was all around us but not raining where we had the BBQ :)

blacknstormy

10/26/2003 12:16:50 AM · #8

Might take you up on that offer one time Natator!! Just a quick question - did you do Ento at UQ???

10/26/2003 12:22:06 AM · #9

Nope Blacknstormy, not exactly. Did a standard biology degree, rather than the ento one (which I would have really enjoyed).

I spent some time there though doing post grad study back when there was actually a department of entomology, may it sadly RIP.

Drop me a private message sometime if you want to get together for a photo trip, coffee or something. No rush, Sleekr and I are here for the long haul I think :)

RHoldenSr

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

10/26/2003 01:17:37 AM · #10

Did you get the wireless or the cable remote?
The cable remote I had a quote of $58.00 from the local pro shop.
I can't afford the wireless right now :)

Calvus

Originally posted by natator:

Oh, Calvus .... I got my remote for the 10D last week, been on back order for 2 months. Makes far more difference than I would have believed (never having used one before) it is sensational :) Expensive for what it is, but an essential item I've now decided.

10/26/2003 04:11:22 AM · #11

I went the cable remote. Very simple yet effective. It is simply either push the same way as the button, or push and slide to lock it open.

Would love the wireless one but couldn't afford it either.

10/26/2003 04:20:31 AM · #12

Just noticed that, by accident, I had a decent sequence going here. Not even sure how long this was taken over, but certainly not more than a couple of mins or so.

Message edited by author 2003-10-26 04:21:18.

bendb

10/26/2003 07:02:03 AM · #13

Nice photos & sequence shot there natator!!

That was a fantastic storm last night, and again today. I was driving towards the Brisbane CBD today from the south, and the whole city was grey, with huge clouds overhead - and I saw a lightning bolt connect with the city from about 5 times the height of the buildings - it was spectacular! I wish I could have found somewhere high and get some photos of it..

I have also had trouble getting good lightning shots, but this has now motivated me to get out there again in the next storm and try! Keep up the good work.

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/26/2003 02:07:00 PM · #14

Natator those are great. The animation works really well too. I've only attempted lightning once. I don't have a shutter speed option on my digi; only on my film camera. So, I took about 48 pictures and have 4-6 that are decent and/or contain a bolt. It's fun, though.

10/26/2003 04:42:33 PM · #15

You got a far better hit rate than I did ButterflySis, and I had ligntning going off constantly (a challenge would have been to miss it ;).

I hadn't read up on it before I went out so I just played around achanging settings.

I actually didn't think I caught anything worthwhile, looking at the LCD, but ended up with a few. Most, as it was sheet lightning, were simply bright light in the skies, impressive as night looked like day, but not great photos.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/26/2003 05:18:58 PM · #16

Getting good lightning images is pretty much a matter of luck.

Leave the camera lense open for as long as you can and stop down the lense so it does not over expose, then hope for the best...

Here are my best ones:
//www.pbase.com/azleader/lightning

bendb

10/26/2003 05:33:26 PM · #17

It's a good thing we have digital cameras to play with - it would be expensive taking a couple of hundred experimental lightning photos on film!

kvoraotsady

Nikon D1X

10/26/2003 08:33:32 PM · #18

Hi Natator!

How did you made your photos moved like that? I love it!!!!!! What functions, animation on PS did you used?????