Shooting lightning

[shiato storm]

whats the best way to go about capturing lightning? on film or digital...?
currently lots of storms happening around here and its very tempting to grab my kit and rush out, thing is I'm not sure what to be setting at as a rough start point...
any advice gratefully received

[RAitch]

My old Fugi camera had a burst mode that would only save the last 5 or first 5 photos. I was going to try framing a spot in the sky with some interesting foreground and hold the shutter down until there was a lightning bolt. On the last 5 mode, I'd imagine there would be a good shot in there somewhere.

What cameras do you have? I only see glass listed.

With that kind of L glass, I'm guessing you have a D20 or better... why don't you just expose for a lightning strike on manual mode and hold the shutter down until you run out of batteries or memory? ;)

I'm interested to hear what other people recommend too... bring it!!

[LastLine]

As am I. We're on the same storms.

[LastLine]

oh but just to point in, I'm trying with a 350d and the so called 'nifty fifty'

[shiato storm]

what cameras do you have.
With that kind of L glass, I'm guessing you have a D20 or better!actually...i'm still with film...use an Olympus OM1 (fantastic camera) and a 1N ;)
but a dSLR is one of the things I am looking to buy, toss up between a 20D and 1dmkII, thing is there's no dSLR that has the weather proofing/ruggedness of the 1 series yet has the small body size of the 20d/1 series film bodies... so I'm waiting to see if one materializes cause I like to go climbing/shooting in outdoors/potentially nasty conditions so the 20d would get fried and a 1dmkii is just stupidly bulky!

[JakeC]

Shooting at night is probably the easiest method, use hyperfocal or infinity focus, frame an area of sky where the most active lightning is occuring. Switch the to bulb mode and select an aperture relevant to the distance the lightning is away also considering whether or not you want to include a foreground element. Open up the shutter before the lightning strikes, then close the shutter once you're sure it's made it into the frame. As for exposure time, the lightning will expose instantly in bulb at night. I'm quite new to storm photography but I'd recommend closing the aperture down if your strike looks overexposed. A little like the first sample image.

With Bulb mode you'll need a sturdy tripod and a remote/cable release.

Both images are 350D and kit lens, first is my first lightning shot exposed for 30sec and hoping I got one. Second is with the BULB method.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/JakeC/strikenoosa2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/JakeC/190505lightning-01sml.jpg

[RichardtheSane]

I used F8-F16 and long exposures - about 15 seconds at a time.

This shot was 15 seconds, F16 @ 28mm on my 20D.
http://www.pbase.com/richardthesane/image/45444621.jpg

The trick is getting the sky away from pitch black with the exposure, but adjusting the F stop depending how close the storm is. This one was very close, but a for others further away needed me to open up to F8 and drop my shutter speed.

[RichardtheSane]

Stunning shots Jake, puts my efforts to shame!
Was my first go today though!

[JakeC]

lol no way Richard, yours is great considering it's taken in suburbia. Lightning photography was the reason I bought my DSLR, I love storms/weather and my little fuji point and shoot just didn't cut it. Unfortunately it is winter over here and I've only had those two chances with the 350 so far. Can't wait until summer :D

[Blue Deuce]

JakeC: Those are spectacular !

[LastLine]

Loving the first shot Jake - though I have to confess I have no idea how to manually close the shutter how you described. Can you talk me through it step by step (more lightning forecast tonight) as I have the same camera so it should be relatively straightforward :) Just not sure where to start.

[JakeC]

Read the manual;)

Seriously though you want to read the section on Bulb mode, it'll explain things much better than I can. You'll also need the RS-60ES remote that should be available at any camera store for about 20GBP

It'll take you no less than 10mins in the backyard to have it all sussed out. If you can't get the remote or just want really simple- put the camera into shutter priority and select 30", set the self timer, lock auto focus on something distant and bright eg. street lamp, bright star, moon, flash of lightning etc then switch it back to manual on the lens (this way it wont try and refocus every shot). Trip the shutter and hope that in the 30secs you capture a strike. Try ISO 100, if the aperture flashes keep bumping it up until it's happy.

Sorry if I sound a bit rude, I want to help but I'm an absolute shocker when comes to explaining something technical. Always has a way of coming out clear as mud :p

[LastLine]

So...when do I let go of the shutter on bulb mode? Straight after the lightning?

[soupdragon]

JakeC:

Your second lightning shot is one of the most inspiring I have ever seen.
That would make a great print to hang on my wall.

[JakeC]

So...when do I let go of the shutter on bulb mode? Straight after the lightning?

There's no tried and true method, if you just want the lightning exposed on it's own then yes- close the shutter directly after the strike. If you want the foreground exposed then you must keep the shutter open longer to achieve this. Beauty about digital is that you get a chance to experiment, sometimes you even get too much lightning:p

Be safe too, and take an interest in weather if you plan on shooting outdoors

[LastLine]

lol, frustrating really. The lightning's all gone now I've got it figured out to try!