How do i take pictures of Lightning?

[flying red fox]

Hi, sometimes when there are thunderstorms passing over my town at night, they make spectacular displays of lightning and i would love to know how to take a picture of them. Its really tricky for me because by the time i know a bolt of lightning strikes, its gone before i get the camera ready!

Any ideas? and also i stay safe by observing from my bedroom window and turn off all electrical appliances while a storm is overhead

[Alan]

You have to set your camera on a long exposure, but this takes a bit of experimenting. Try something like 20 seconds at F16. Obviously this usually only works at night, otherwise you’ll just overexpose the shot. You have to guess when you think the next lightning bolt will strike, then trip the camera. There’s a lot of luck involved but it is good fun. Go for it, but don’t get the camera wet! Good luck!

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Alan

You have to set your camera on a long exposure, but this takes a bit of experimenting. Try something like 20 seconds at F16. Obviously this usually only works at night, otherwise you’ll just overexpose the shot. You have to guess when you think the next lightning bolt will strike, then trip the camera. There’s a lot of luck involved but it is good fun. Go for it, but don’t get the camera wet! Good luck!

Cheers guys, I have often wondered this.................Jon

[Bushcraft]

Good post, I wondered this too but thought it was a case of being in the right place at the right with your finger on the button reeling them off shot by shot lol.

[nightshade]

With a film camera it used to be 100 asa, f8, shutter open as a starting point.Make a note of the path the lightning takes for future storms (as viewed from your window)

[Alan]

You can use this long exposure technique for many night time subjects. You usually have to use a tripod, but you can get some good abstract effects handholding the camera. Try doing this while your inside a moving car (but not driving!) at night. Just hold it on the dashboard and set the shutter speed at 20 secs or more.

See some pics below:

[canonman]

Hi
I agree with Alan. I would say a tripod is a must, unless you have a solid wall to rest the camera on.
Taking photo's of lightening is a question of being lucky
Mick

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by canonman

Hi
I agree with Alan. I would say a tripod is a must, unless you have a solid wall to rest the camera on.
Taking photo's of lightening is a question of being lucky
Mick

Just remember that your tripod is a big pointy metal /carbon thing, so make sure you are not in the middle of an open space or on a hill with it when the storm comes overhead !

[nightshade]

Talking of being lucky,I met a chap who was a keen photographer and he mentioned that he had taken a picture of lightning at a board mills and won a prize.He showed me the picture and it was absolutely brilliant. I met up with him again and showed him a photo of a chap set up with his camera by the old board mills that I had taken the same evening it was him !

[Razor61]

Hi,

This refers to any Canon D-SLR users...for night time shooting

Take a meter reading of the sky and use the 'Bulb' feature. This will allow you to shoot an exposure to your own liking, instead of the limited 30seconds. You keep your finger on the shutter for as long as you like, if you get the camera aimed at a good intense area of lightning, then set up on a tripod if outside (remember to be safe distance away, and remember lightning can strike far from the storm itself), if inside the car (A very safe to be) then you can use a bean bag on the window or a window based monopod. Press the shutter on Bulb and catch as much lightning as possible, then when you review it, you should have lots of lightning (if Cloud to Ground) strikes in the frame....

Rich

[troutmask]

Originally Posted by Razor61

Hi,

This refers to any Canon D-SLR users...for night time shooting

Take a meter reading of the sky and use the 'Bulb' feature. This will allow you to shoot an exposure to your own liking, instead of the limited 30seconds. You keep your finger on the shutter for as long as you like, if you get the camera aimed at a good intense area of lightning, then set up on a tripod if outside (remember to be safe distance away, and remember lightning can strike far from the storm itself), if inside the car (A very safe to be) then you can use a bean bag on the window or a window based monopod. Press the shutter on Bulb and catch as much lightning as possible, then when you review it, you should have lots of lightning (if Cloud to Ground) strikes in the frame....

Rich

One word of warning, digital sensors heat up,the higher the ISO setting the hoter they become. On exposures over 30 second this heat will show up as noise in the image. Its not too bad a problem with lightning against a black sky; but it can be a problem with clouds etc. It's best to keep the shutter open at 30secs max. set the camera at around f8 and count the time from the thunder so that you are opening the shutter abut 15 secs before the expected lightning and 15 secs after. Obviously the camera needs to be on a rock solid tripod.

[Fourwings]

This is my best effort to date taken with a 35mm film SLR fitted with a 28mm wide angle lens.
It was taken using the Bulb setting for a 20 second exposure at f.8.

The white specks are dust in my scanner, I am going to scan it properly one day.

As for digital images of lightning - I've not tried it yet, but it does give thunderstorms tomorrow evening/night, so maybe...!

[Andy Warne]

Originally Posted by Alan

You can use this long exposure technique for many night time subjects. You usually have to use a tripod, but you can get some good abstract effects handholding the camera. Try doing this while your inside a moving car (but not driving!) at night. Just hold it on the dashboard and set the shutter speed at 20 secs or more.

See some pics below:

Nice pics Alan. Another interesting technique is "Tossing", don't try it with your DSLR though!

http://cameratoss.blogspot.com/

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by Andy Warne

Nice pics Alan. Another interesting technique is "Tossing", don't try it with your DSLR though!

The mind boggles, Andy ....

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Andy Warne

Nice pics Alan. Another interesting technique is "Tossing", don't try it with your DSLR though!

http://cameratoss.blogspot.com/

I was almost too scared to click on the link

Crazy zaney techniques Andy......good stuff

[Bushcraft]

This was my first and best lightning shot.

[Jonny]

Here is my best lightning shot..........

[Dan Salter]

My tip is dont stand under and tall trees or metal pylons while taking lightning pics ...or you may end up with a macro shot of the lightning !

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by Jonny

Here is my best lightning shot..........

Lol, Jonny, did you get wet taking that one?

[Earth Hart]

I've always gone out in storms as they move around, remember they have activity centres. Once you know where they are it's just down to waiting. Some shots I took of a storm a few years ago can be found on Bill Glenn's photo gallery As to using a tripod I prefer a monopod, my thumbstick, it's wooden. The pics were taken on an old pentax with a wide lens, can't remember the f. or exposure.

Earth Hart