Taking pictures of lightning?? How?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

06/07/2007 12:50:09 AM · #1

Hey, we had a huge storm here yesterday with some crazy lightning. I tried to get some shots but only 1 turned out, one bolt was crazy close but was way too bright for the camera. (i couldn't see for like 1min lol) Im not sure the best way to do this, doing longer exposures only resulted in having blowouts when the actual bolt did strike, and taking individual shots is out of the question. Tips?

PhotoDave

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/07/2007 12:52:17 AM · #2

you can still do the longer exposures just go to a lower arperature like f8 to f11...

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/07/2007 01:04:08 AM · #3

Originally posted by dknourek:

you can still do the longer exposures just go to a lower arperature like f8 to f11...

i did but they all were way too bright lol :P I was using a remote so id hold it open waiting for a strike, problem is sometimes the strike would take awhile so its been open for like 30seconds+ before theres a bolt. When it does hit its so bright it blew everything out.

Delta_6

Canon EOS-7D

06/07/2007 01:07:31 AM · #4

When we had a storm here I went to a good place with a view, set up on a tripod and did a series of 10 second exposures, one after another, except when the camera had to cool down. Didn't get much, it was too far away, but it's an idea.

taterbug

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/07/2007 01:13:11 AM · #5

here's an old lightning thread with some good sounding advice.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

06/07/2007 01:58:49 AM · #6

You are getting the weather up there. First flooding, and now it sounds like storms are still going on too.
If you have a N D filter put that on. Set camera to aperture priority, and just shoot normal exposure, or -1/2 stop with the smallest available aperture. Set ISO to the lowest available with your camera to lengthen the exposure time, and help with the lightning not washing out the whole shot.
Good luck, and be a bit careful. If you can't be careful, be really quick LOL.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/07/2007 11:03:41 PM · #7

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

I found a good spot under a bridge sheltered from the weather, which was good cuz it was pooring REALLY hard lol :P The run back to the car was a little wet but oh well :P

Prime_Time

Nikon D80

06/07/2007 11:08:27 PM · #8

To get the best photo of lightning and maybe your last :-P~~

Get a long metal rod and put next to yourself, rod maybe measuring 20 or so feet long. Make sure you stand it up :-p~~~

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

06/07/2007 11:14:53 PM · #9

I was trying to get a lightning pic this afternoon, but didn't have a ND filter, so about 1 sec was the longest shutter speed I could use. I did get this shot though.

chip_k

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/07/2007 11:16:01 PM · #10

On my 20D, I use the Canon Remote with the "Lock" position option.I like the mid-range apertures (f13 or so) if I can get at least a quarter of a second or so of exposure. I use a fast memory card and I lock it and leave it ;) You just take hundreds or thousands of photos to get the right one.

06/07/2007 11:20:02 PM · #11

Originally posted by Spurs:

To get the best photo of lightning and maybe your last :-P~~

Get a long metal rod and put next to yourself, rod maybe measuring 20 or so feet long. Make sure you stand it up :-p~~~

Hmm does that really work? Maybe ill give that a go lol :P Might just get me a blue ribbon winning image for once :P

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

06/07/2007 11:21:58 PM · #12

Originally posted by chip_k:

Ah thats a good idea too, if only i had a 16gb card and a camera that could take pictures faster *drools* Mark III :D

Bugzeye

06/07/2007 11:25:13 PM · #13

i am going out right now to try to get some lightning shots. we have a huge line of storms rolling through now and some even bigger ones about 90 minutes away. I bought a Manfrotto Window Pod for the car the other day perfect opertunity to try it out. Ill post pics if I get any worth keeping.