Ralph Thornton
Well-Known Member
A nasty evening! Heavy rain, wind and plenty of lightning. Fortunately we missed the golf ball size hail! The clouds were really rolling along.
Lightning Out My Window
- Thread starter Ralph Thornton
- Start date
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
Perfect timing and positioning. Great colours too!
Ralph Thornton
Well-Known Member
When I tried to shoot lightning with a film camera I was much more successful. I would set the camera on a tripod, aim it in a like
Y direction, set the exposure manually and wait. As long as my shutter speed was not too short I could punch the cable release when I actually saw lightning. Often enough I got some on film.
With my 5D MKII I'm always just a tad late. The latency between punching the cable release and opening the shutter must be longer with the digital camera.
So after getting frustrated missing strike after strike, I put the camera on continuous shooting and blasted away. I took 160 photos and 3 of them caught some listening. Only the one I posted was worth anything and even that's not all that great.
Y direction, set the exposure manually and wait. As long as my shutter speed was not too short I could punch the cable release when I actually saw lightning. Often enough I got some on film.
With my 5D MKII I'm always just a tad late. The latency between punching the cable release and opening the shutter must be longer with the digital camera.
So after getting frustrated missing strike after strike, I put the camera on continuous shooting and blasted away. I took 160 photos and 3 of them caught some listening. Only the one I posted was worth anything and even that's not all that great.
Glenn Clabo
Well-Known Member
Cool shot Ralph. I've been trying to get a shot out our window...but the rain is usually pounding our windows by the time it get's over the harbor. I'm never going outside on our 6th floor deck with a camera. 
Ralph Thornton
Well-Known Member
I agree. Lightning is dangerous stuff. The only good photos I've gotten of lightning were taken while I was sitting in my pickup truck.
Brian Moore
Moderator
Bonnie shot, Ralph!
What do you mean when you say, in regard to your experience taking photos of lightning with a film camera, "aim it in a like Y direction"?
What do you mean when you say, in regard to your experience taking photos of lightning with a film camera, "aim it in a like Y direction"?
Ralph Thornton
Well-Known Member
That's funny. I think I was trying to say I set the exposure and aimed the camera at where I thought there would be lightning. I can't recall exactly what I thought I typed before the autocorrect on my iPad took over!
Chris Dodkin
West Coast Correspondent
thats very cool, you can just feel the energy in that strick
interesting technique, and clearly effective
you can look at triggering the 5DII electronically to get lightning, these folks make some interesting kits
https://triggertrap.com/
There's also an excellent write-up on B&H about lightning photography here: How to Photograph Lightning | BH Insights
interesting technique, and clearly effective
you can look at triggering the 5DII electronically to get lightning, these folks make some interesting kits
https://triggertrap.com/
There's also an excellent write-up on B&H about lightning photography here: How to Photograph Lightning | BH Insights
Pete Askew
Admin
Fabulous shot Ralph. I tend to use a low ISO, small aperture and a long exposure (30s - 1m on B) and then take several shots one after another. I end the exposure after the strike.
Ralph Thornton
Well-Known Member
Thanks Chris. I'll try that. Maybe even add an ND filter to lengthen the shutter speed.
Beth Carter
Well-Known Member
very nice shot ralph. great comp. considering you have no idea where the lightning will strike.
i've heard of people shooting lightning like pete describes it, but haven't had the opportunity to try it myself. someday... i think one photo i've seen even layered the shots and set them to lighten so he had multiple lightning strikes.
i've heard of people shooting lightning like pete describes it, but haven't had the opportunity to try it myself. someday... i think one photo i've seen even layered the shots and set them to lighten so he had multiple lightning strikes.
Ralph Thornton
Well-Known Member
That's Beth.
I took about 160 photos trying to get lightning. Three of those captured a strike. So the idea to merge or layer them came to mind. But when I looked at them all three of the strikes were in the same place. Imagine that, lightning strikes more than once in the same place! I knew that but now I have proof.
I took about 160 photos trying to get lightning. Three of those captured a strike. So the idea to merge or layer them came to mind. But when I looked at them all three of the strikes were in the same place. Imagine that, lightning strikes more than once in the same place! I knew that but now I have proof.
Paul Lange
Moderator
That looks like a pretty nasty storm and I wouldn't want to be the guy under that bolt of lightning. There are some good trigger kits out and they seem quite versatile too. Loads of options to trigger such as sound, light, IR beams and movement. You can even have 2 IR beams crossed and the trigger wont trip unless both are broken.
