How do you capture lightning

[Tudordoc]

Last night we had a major electrical storm over London. I relaised that I did not know how to get those lovely shots others have with lightning bolts coming out the sky. Any advice for capturing lightning during the day and also at night?

Thanks

TudorDoc

[lostdoggy]

Stand on wet ground and hold up a metal rod in an open field. Very Dangerous. Wouldn't recommend this method.

[chakras]

Stand on wet ground and hold up a metal rod in an open field. Very Dangerous. Wouldn't recommend this method.

ROTFL :lol::lol::lol:

I think lots of luck and long exposure should help.

[PhotoManMike]

Check out this link for some obvious--and not so obvious--tips:

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/content/pastissues/2000/july/electric.html

There's also information there about a commercially available "lightning trigger".

Mike

[chris clements]

Same as fireworks. Attach to tripod & keep the shutter open, say between 10 to 30 seconds. Experiment with time and apertures.

[ron chappel]

Lightning is one of the easiest and most satisfying things to capture! :)
As Chris said- camera on tripod,use long shutter times and stop down the lens enough so that the background stays black.
All you have to do it trip the shutter and wait,the lightning will come to you

[muscleflex]

also bring a matt black cardboard or something to cover the lens in between so no stray lights can come in and you can easily flick the card away at the right time. this is how i do it with fireworks.

[Jim_T]

I use the remote cable on my 10D.

I mount the camera on a tripod..

I put the camera in manual mode, then I set the aperture and ISO so the camera needs a long exposure (20-30 seconds) to properly expose the scene under normal lighting conditions. (Take a few test shots to make sure the scene looks OK without lightning).

Then I set the camera to multi shot mode.. (Where you hold down the shutter and the camera shoots until the buffer is full).

I press and lock the remote.. The camera starts taking 20-30 second exposures one after another with only a fraction of a second between. Then I sit back and watch the camera photographing the lightning :)

Once you're done, just download the photos and delete the ones without lightning..

I've got some better ones, but this is the only one I have on a website. It was taken with this method.

http://www.pbase.com/jim_townsend/image/18597052

[kram]

Very useful.... in bad weather, not much that you get to capture :)

[Titus213]

I didn't see anyone mention an umbrella - for the camera. Seriously, you can get real wet trying this stuff, not to mention electocuted.....but it is a real blast.

BTW - my avitar is 'The Four Horesmen'. Shot on film in Beavercreek Oregon.

[johnlo]

I took this back in 1997, driving from Vegas back to LA area. No I wasnt the driver. I was on the passenager side. I was only playing around. Totally didnt think I would get something that I actually would like.... this was captured using film - manual mode.

[Salleke]

I use the remote cable on my 10D.

I mount the camera on a tripod..

I put the camera in manual mode, then I set the aperture and ISO so the camera needs a long exposure (20-30 seconds) to properly expose the scene under normal lighting conditions. (Take a few test shots to make sure the scene looks OK without lightning).

Then I set the camera to multi shot mode.. (Where you hold down the shutter and the camera shoots until the buffer is full).

I press and lock the remote.. The camera starts taking 20-30 second exposures one after another with only a fraction of a second between. Then I sit back and watch the camera photographing the lightning :)

Once you're done, just download the photos and delete the ones without lightning..

I've got some better ones, but this is the only one I have on a website. It was taken with this method.

http://www.pbase.com/jim_townsend/image/18597052

Fantastic picture you showed here. And a good technique you have worked out.
I'm a little embarassed to ask but how do you focus properly in the dark to get the lightning that will come in focus? ... :oops:

[chris clements]

also bring a matt black cardboard or something to cover the lens in between so no stray lights can come in and you can easily flick the card away at the right time. this is how i do it with fireworks.

The black card is a great tip for fireworks, but there you get some warning.
Last time I was in an electrical storm, the thunder came after the lightning, not before!

Re focus question : - just turn off the a/f and set to infinity (use a distant tree/building)

[Jim_T]

Fantastic picture you showed here. And a good technique you have worked out.
I'm a little embarassed to ask but how do you focus properly in the dark to get the lightning that will come in focus? ... :oops:

Thanks..

I should have mentioned.. Not only is the camera in manual mode, but I also put the lens in manual focus mode....

I start in Auto Focus mode. Then I use the shutter half-press to focus at a distant point on the horizon so it's set to infinity. Once I've locked the focus on infinity, I slide the lens switch to over to Manual focus. Since it's locked in perfect infinity focus, the lighting will always be sharp and the camera won't hunt if it's pointed at a featureless sky as it would if it were left in Auto Focus.

I use a high F number with a fairly wide angle lens, so DOF isn't a big issue unless there is something really close in the foreground.

[ericgtr]

I didn't see anyone mention an umbrella - for the camera. Seriously, you can get real wet trying this stuff, not to mention electocuted.....but it is a real blast.

BW - my avitar is 'The Four Horesmen'. Shot on film in Beavercreek Oregon.
Dave, nice shot! Did you capture that during our recent string of thunder storms? I live in Beaverton and wasn't able to get anything decent because we didn't get any of them after dark, only during the day and I couldn't leave the shutter open long enough in the light.

[digibeet]

Just press the button at the right time. It worked with my 28 year old Canon EF. I don't know if it works with my dRebel.

[likophoto]

Shooting at night allows you to take multiple shoots on one frame because of the very low light. This way you can shoot multiple strikes throughout the night all in one picture... makes the electrical storm look outrageous!

I'm not sure about your camera, but some have a setting that allows you to take multiple exposures on one frame. If yours doesn't, just set your camera to bulb and use the black card method to cover your lens. All you have to do is uncover the lens when you see lightning.

[muscleflex]

here's a question: how do you do multiple exposures on a 20d? or is this not possible? i can't seem to find this referenced on the manual...

[photoshooter]

i shot this pic only holding camera and this was my very first try at lightning guess i was lucky

[photoshooter]

ooops kinda big lol

[digibeet]

nice shot!!!

[chris clements]

"all you have to do is uncover the lens at the right time"
"just press the button at the right time"

Sorry, but no.
The duration of a single flash will be a zillion times shorter than your reflexes or shutter lag.

"Leave it open and they will come"

[photoshooter]

sounds to me like it would be easier for you guys to buy a video recorder the pic i showed all i did was push the button guess my reflexies are pretty fast must be from all the auto raceing i shoot lol:eek: any way i was just lucky and just funning with you guys have a nice day

[Titus213]

Dave, nice shot! Did you capture that during our recent string of thunder storms? I live in Beaverton and wasn't able to get anything decent because we didn't get any of them after dark, only during the day and I couldn't leave the shutter open long enough in the light.

No, this shot was captured several years ago using my Canon T70. I'm just put together all we need for lightning on digital (cable release, tripod, etc). Currently on vacation in central Wisconsin waiting for a storm and playing with the grandkids....

We did get some great shots of the Father's Day storm that went thru but were not able to get any lightning shots that time. Skies were amazing during that one though. Hope you got some of it...we did::lol:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80586

[chris clements]

sounds to me like it would be easier for you guys to buy a video recorder the pic i showed all i did was push the button guess my reflexies are pretty fast must be from all the auto raceing i shoot lol:eek: any way i was just lucky and just funning with you guys have a nice day


From a Googled site: 'the duration of one powerful stroke is no more than 0.0002 sec'

Photoshooter: even Liberty Valance wouldn't have stood a chance up against you!!

[Simon Spiers]

Photoshooter thats a great shot!
You can buy a gadget called a lightning trigger that fits an the hot shoe and fires the shutter in the event of a sudden change in light level.
Geting a photo of lightning in the day is a lot down to luck ,but night should be easyer.