Photographing lightning

[Drk Orange]

Are there any tips you can give?

I have a few shots of a storm taken at night where it was easy to take 30 second exposures until one or more bolts happened.

While that is fine for night, how can I capture daylight lightning?

I have noticed plans for an electronic remote shutter my 300D which I assume can be modded to trigger the camera when the sensor sees lightning. Will this be quick enough?

Cheers,
Michael.

[timmyquest]

If your really serious about this (or if the amount of money isnt as big of a deal to you as it is to me):

http://www.lightningtrigger.com/

[scottbergerphoto]

Exposures for lightening vary widely due to the intensity of the lightening strike and its distance from the camera. Set the camera to Bulb and leave the shutter open for a couple of bursts. Try f/8. Try not to get hit!
Regards,
Scott

[Drk Orange]

Here are a couple of examples...


http://members.iinet.net.au/~miketz/sssf/Lightning010204a.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~miketz/sssf/Lightning010204b.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~miketz/sssf/Lightning010204c.jpg


According to the weather radar, this storm cell was about 75km away. The exposures were around the 30 second mark, and I am unsure as if all the finer tendrils occurred at the same time as the main bolt, but they certainly look good.

The main bolt is also not 'sharp', but I am guessing that is nothing I can accommodate for.

[scottbergerphoto]

Very nice shots! Thanks for posting.
Scott

[hogzilla]

What lens do you use for lightening

[timmyquest]

Most of the guys thatdo it seriously, as in...for a living. Use telephotos from a distance. It obviously depends on where your at in relation to the storm though i supose.

http://www.lightningboy.com/

[Drk Orange]

What lens do you use for lightening

I used the standard 18-55mm lens that came with the 300D on the 55mm setting. They were 30sec exposures with an Fstop of 7.1

[kglenns]

Drk Orange,

How did you set up the lens, i.e., AF, MF. And if you used MF did you set to infinity?[/quote]

[DocFrankenstein]

Most of the guys thatdo it seriously, as in...for a living. Use telephotos from a distance. It obviously depends on where your at in relation to the storm though i supose.
But if you want a shot that's different, try using a circular fisheye pointed straight up. :shock:

[2goldens]

I have attempted to photograph lightening in the past and I didn't work for me. I live in Las Vegas Nevada and we don't get much rain. (That isn't true this year) It just rains so bad that I am not going out in it. (When it rains) :) :) :)

Love the photos.