Shooting lightning.

hi....
I am interested to shoot lighting .

I understand there are two ways:
1. Keep the camera on manual mode and set it at continuous shots at 30 sec so that the camera keeps on shooting non stop. As and when the lighting sticks it will capture.

2. There is a lightning trigger to be attached on the hot shoe of the camera and it will trigger as soon as lightning sticks.

My question is: Which is better way and give 100 % results. If it is better to use a lightning trigger which brand would you recommend. I am told that Stepping stone from Colorado is a good one but it is too expensive ($300+) . Could someone please suggest an alternative brand . Thanks,

Hussain Nalwala

hanalwala wrote in post #18052948
hi....
I am interested to shoot lighting .

I understand there are two ways:
1. Keep the camera on manual mode and set it at continuous shots at 30 sec so that the camera keeps on shooting non stop. As and when the lighting sticks it will capture.

2. There is a lightning trigger to be attached on the hot shoe of the camera and it will trigger as soon as lightning sticks.

My question is: Which is better way and give 100 % results. If it is better to use a lightning trigger which brand would you recommend. I am told that Stepping stone from Colorado is a good one but it is too expensive ($300+) . Could someone please suggest an alternative brand . Thanks,

Hussain Nalwala

hi there

I assume you mean strikes, not sticks

nothing is 100 % for still images. there's lots of luck involved. Pointing in the right direction being the top of the list (well that applies for doing video as well)

I have a lightning trigger. They are all much of a much. Only really works well with the really bright and reasonably close strikes.
This is mainly because the more distant ones are fainter and the detector has difficulty detecting the difference between the daytime light and the lightning flashes
I have dabbled with ND8 filters to be able to do slightly longer exposures during the daytime ... mediocre success

because of those things daytime captures is difficult ( but not impossible)
I normally use video for the daytime stuff and pull out the individual frames

for nitetime imaging I will do 20sec exposures or till I capture a strike, which ever occurs first and then do the next exposure
it has produced some awesome results


hope that helps a little

cheers
Dave

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I use the first method, its cheap, and works reasonably well. I used 20 second exposures at nightfall for this.
Best,
Steve

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/AEFY​JA

I had a budget trigger from Amazon, ended up returning it just not reliable.

i've had success on the continuous method and also the remote method, both on fixed tripod.

from our summer 3 week out west 2014 camping trip, this is Custer State Park campground , around 1am

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Agreed with others, just do constant exposures, reliability from a trigger is not very good IMO. Plus with constant exposures you can do a timelapse and/or stacking to make really awesome shots. I generally do 20-30 second exposures at a lower ISO and stop down multiple stops. Here's a few I captured last summer:

First method is the cheapest and easiest but limits you to night time lightning. As to triggers, this pretty simple technology. A hobbyist can easily assemble a trigger from Radio Shack parts for about $15 or just go to Amazon and search lightning triggers. Several in the $60~$80 range. Below is a shot using method #1

Wow! Great shots, all!

I use the same method (~20 second exposure) but don't have anything nearly as impressive to post.

I use the first method as well. Yet, I find lightning for the sake of lightning doesn't quite cut it. I begin by choosing a nice scene and compose carefully, then I keep operating the camera until the storm has passed by.

I use the first method for night time lightning. I like to use a remote trigger in bulb mode. That way, if a lightning bolt is particularly bright, you can cut the exposure short.

Since everyone else is sharing, here's my favorite shot:

Mississippi River Bridge, Vicksburg MS, June 6, 2013

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …013%20030-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …/ys21-590-XL.jpg&lb=1&s=A

I use the multiple exposure method. I set the exposure to 10 - 20 seconds (depending on the light), put the camera in burst mode, point it at the storm, then lock my remote shutter release. The camera will click away and capture all lightning flashes. After I'm done, I sort through the exposures and delete all those that don't have lightning.

Below are two shots taken from the the same multiple exposure effort:

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I use method 1 at night. The hardest part is making sure your glass is pointed in the direction of the lightning.

I did just recently purchase a trigger and have not had a chance to use it. Wanted it mostly for daytime lightning.

Here are a couple pictures captured with method 1.

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Great captures , well done !

really like this shot. so my question to you is:

by using a long exposure you are able to hopefully capture multiple lightening strikes over the 20-30s exposure correct? Sorry I know it isnt the best question because i am pretty new at photography and I am just learning here.

mattmiller03 wrote in post #18061307
really like this shot. so my question to you is:

by using a long exposure you are able to hopefully capture multiple lightening strikes over the 20-30s exposure correct? Sorry I know it isnt the best question because i am pretty new at photography and I am just learning here.

THat's going to depend on the storm. When I lived in Illinois we had a lot of t-storms but so much of the lightning was buried in the clouds that I was lucky to get one visible. Here in Texas it is very different. It's not unusual for there to be multiple strikes in a matter of seconds so 30 seconds tends to be a bit long. 10 seconds can get you 3~5 strikes.

yeah the 3-5 strikes on the one photo exposure. ok i know i might seem slightly dumb this but just making sure i am understanding the information