tell us your lightning techniques

[j-paka]

ive always been amazed by lightning and would love to learn to get great shots so show me some techniques

[PhotosGuy]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=431985

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907

[peatoire]

lightning PhotosGuy not lighting. :lol:

[PhotosGuy]

lightning PhotosGuy not lighting. OK, so my reading skills match some others spelling skills? :D

If you do a "Advanced" forum KEYWORD search in "Search Titles Only" for lightning , you will find a lot of help.

[PacAce]

OK, so my reading skills match some others spelling skills? :D

If you do a "Advanced" forum KEYWORD search in "Search Titles Only" for lightning , you will find a lot of help.

Don't feel bad, Frank. I read the thread title the same way you did, too. I was even contemplating whether it should be moved to the Flash and Lighting forum. :lol:

[Perry Ge]

Haha I read it that way too. Shooting lightning can be a lot like shooting fireworks, just slower and and you've gotta be a little more lucky. Long, long bulb exposures, low ISO, small aperture, - be sure to compose the rest of the image (often a landscape) well, this too often gets ignored with lightning. The rest is knowing where to aim and hoping.

[queenbee288]

When I first read it I thought it said lighting also. LOL

[Kevin Reilly]

I shoot lightning during monsoon season in Tucson. Here are my tips:

1. Shoot at a storm that is miles away and always stay safe.
2. Set your camera on a tripod and use a cable release.
3. Use manual focus.
4. Set f stop from 8 to 11 depending upon how far away the lightning is.
5. Set camera for continuous shooting.
6. ISO 100-200
7. Test shutter speeds of 1 to 15 seconds. In dark areas you can use the bulb setting.
8. Lock you cable release so the camera shots one picture after another.
9. I like to shoot 2 cameras. One with a wide lens (20mm) and one with a telephoto (70-200 mm).

You will get 200 black images and about 10 good lighting strikes.

There is a device that will automatically trigger your camera when the lightning strikes (http://lightningtrigger.com/) It is impossible to catch lightning if you do it by hand.

Check out my lightning on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/kinoshaman/collections/72157600024312392/

[tonylong]

Kevin,

You have some fantastic shots! Do you always use the Lightning Trigger?