Taking pictures of storms 101

[vaaaska]

Lots of storms here in the summer... We've been trying to take pictures often, but no decent ones have come up yet.

Does anybody have good advice for these? Lightening?

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!

[Steveo31]

ISO 100, tripod, cable release, long exposure. Hand-held meter if your camera can't do really long exposure times.

[vaaaska]

I have a Canon EOS 300D so I think it's suitable for the task.

I can do a long exposure time, but how long? Or, since you mention the cable release, do I just sit there and keep shooting over and over hoping that the lightning will appear during the duration of a shot?

One problem I've had so far was that there is a light source down the alley and when I do a long exposure it ultimately will illuminate the entire backyard during the shot - is there some trick around this?

I guess I gotta just play around with...thanks for info. ;)

[Penguin_101_1]

Between the lightning you could hold a black card over the lens or go into the country and take it out there.

[robertwgross]

One problem I've had so far was that there is a light source down the alley and when I do a long exposure it ultimately will illuminate the entire backyard during the shot - is there some trick around this?


Yes, go away from the light source.

Go to a hill away from town.

Better yet, if you want to photograph storms, go to the USA to the state of Oklahoma. They have terrible storms there all summer long.

Better yet, go to Orlando, Florida. That is the lightning capital of the USA. There are approximately 100-110 lightning storm days per year there, so you don't have to hang out long to get a chance at lightning.

However, you might want to wrap your camera in metal chain link and ground it.

---Bob Gross---