Lightning Photography

"Pat" wrote:
> It's simple. Go set up a really big mirror a long ways in the
> opposite direction of the storm. Point the camera into the mirror.
> Wait for a lightning strike. When you see it, hit your shutter and
> capture the picture. Because the light goes to the mirror and bounces
> back at you, you'll have plenty of time to get ready for it.
>

That was pretty funny. What about the issue of constantly having to
wipe the rain off the mirror?


--
Steve <snip> McQ
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

Or patient during a good storm. Just shoot lots of frames (you'll have
to play with exposure) and you should end up with a good shot.
http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=185824

George Anderson

Annika1980 wrote:
> On Dec 18, 8:40 am, Quadibloc <jsav....TakeThisOut@ecn.ab.ca> wrote:
>
>> The way you have to do it, IIRC, is make a long exposure, and hope
>> that a lightning bolt happens *during* the exposure, because a
>> lightning bolt is over by the time you have reacted to it to press the
>> shutter.
>
> Not if you are quick.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/62735361
> http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/54799895
>
> They also make a lightning trigger which will trigger the shutter when
> lightning appears. I don't know how effective these devices are,
> however.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

On Dec 18, 6:13 am, Luke Carroll <spookylu... RemoveThis @hotmail.com.REMOVE>
wrote:
> I am getting a digital SLR (400D) for Christmas and would like to get
> some winter storms. Are storms and lightning difficult to capture?
> This person explains it as easy, is it really as easy as point click and
> capture?

My understanding is that photographing lightning is difficult even
with film cameras.

The way you have to do it, IIRC, is make a long exposure, and hope
that a lightning bolt happens *during* the exposure, because a
lightning bolt is over by the time you have reacted to it to press the
shutter. This may be a little bit more awkward with a CCD, but
probably not that much.

John Savard
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

On Dec 18, 8:13 am, Luke Carroll <spookylu....RemoveThis@hotmail.com.REMOVE>
wrote:
> I am getting a digital SLR (400D) for Christmas and would like to get
> some winter storms. Are storms and lightning difficult to capture?
> This person explains it as easy, is it really as easy as point click and
> capture?http://www.flickr.com/photos/silvermoon/2051967191/
>
> Digital SLR seems so scary compared to the the old IXUS 800.
> I was lucky mom gave me the manual so I have studied up so hopefully I
> will be comfortable when I start.
>
> Does anyone else here use the 400d and am I able to ask some questions
> if i need advice?
> The Flickr 400d group is very helpful also.

It's simple. Go set up a really big mirror a long ways in the
opposite direction of the storm. Point the camera into the mirror.
Wait for a lightning strike. When you see it, hit your shutter and
capture the picture. Because the light goes to the mirror and bounces
back at you, you'll have plenty of time to get ready for it.
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:33:15 -0700, "~~NoMad~~" <nomadjpegs DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:

>
>"Luke Carroll" <spookylukey DeleteThis @hotmail.com.REMOVE> wrote in message
>news:5spvbgF1ah6ejU1@mid.individual.net...
>>I am getting a digital SLR (400D) for Christmas and would like to get some
>>winter storms. Are storms and lightning difficult to capture?
>> This person explains it as easy, is it really as easy as point click and
>> capture?
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/silvermoon/2051967191/
>>
>> Digital SLR seems so scary compared to the the old IXUS 800.
>> I was lucky mom gave me the manual so I have studied up so hopefully I
>> will be comfortable when I start.
>>
>> Does anyone else here use the 400d and am I able to ask some questions if
>> i need advice?
>> The Flickr 400d group is very helpful also.
>
>The best way to photograph lightning is to use an HD video camcorder to
>record the storm.
>
>Later you can do a frame capture on your computer to get the best shots.
>
>
>NM
>
>

Yeah, keep listening to these resident-troll morons. Virtual photographers
playing with their virtual cameras handing out virtual advice, they win their
imaginary "power points" if they can trick you into believing they've ever
touched a camera, which they then hand in for their virtual blow-up doll reward
each week.

Do yourself a favor. Dump that image jarring POS DSLR and go put CHDK on your
IXUS800 with motion detection built into it. Then use the motion detection
feature to trigger each shot by the lightning strike itself.

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Samples:_Lightning_photography
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

On Dec 18, 8:40 am, Quadibloc <jsav... RemoveThis @ecn.ab.ca> wrote:

>
> The way you have to do it, IIRC, is make a long exposure, and hope
> that a lightning bolt happens *during* the exposure, because a
> lightning bolt is over by the time you have reacted to it to press the
> shutter.

Not if you are quick.

http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/62735361
http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/54799895

They also make a lightning trigger which will trigger the shutter when
lightning appears. I don't know how effective these devices are,
however.
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

Joel Broden wrote:

> Do yourself a favor. Dump that image jarring POS DSLR and go put
> CHDK on your IXUS800 with motion detection built into it. Then use
> the motion detection feature to trigger each shot by the lightning
> strike itself.
>
> http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
> http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Samples:_Lightning_photography

Yes - follow this advice. You can buy books with pictures of lightning
inside - you will need to if you follow this advice.

--
Neil
reverse ra and delete l
Linux user 335851
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

Suddenly, without warning, Quadibloc exclaimed (12/18/2007 11:10 PM):
> On Dec 18, 6:13 am, Luke Carroll <spookylu....DeleteThis@hotmail.com.REMOVE>
> wrote:
>> I am getting a digital SLR (400D) for Christmas and would like to get
>> some winter storms. Are storms and lightning difficult to capture?
>> This person explains it as easy, is it really as easy as point click and
>> capture?
>
> My understanding is that photographing lightning is difficult even
> with film cameras.
>
> The way you have to do it, IIRC, is make a long exposure, and hope
> that a lightning bolt happens *during* the exposure, because a
> lightning bolt is over by the time you have reacted to it to press the
> shutter. This may be a little bit more awkward with a CCD, but
> probably not that much.
>
> John Savard

This is the method I used to get some nice lightning shots. This one
was the best: http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelcat/2121555864/. It
wasn't taken with a DSLR though; at the time I had a Nikon Coolpix 8700,
which Nikon described as "DSLR-like". At any rate, these are the
settings I used:

Original date/time: 2006:12:01 20:56:32
Exposure time: 800/100
F-stop: 2.8
ISO speed: 50

Then, I'd just keep hitting the shutter button each time the previous
exposure finished. I took probably 30 frames, and ended up with 5 or 6
usable lightning images.

Haven't had an opportunity yet to try with my 400D/Rebel XTi.

jmc
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

Luke Carroll wrote:
> I am getting a digital SLR (400D) for Christmas and would like to get
> some winter storms. Are storms and lightning difficult to capture?
> This person explains it as easy, is it really as easy as point click and
> capture?
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/silvermoon/2051967191/
>
> Digital SLR seems so scary compared to the the old IXUS 800.
> I was lucky mom gave me the manual so I have studied up so hopefully I
> will be comfortable when I start.
>
> Does anyone else here use the 400d and am I able to ask some questions
> if i need advice?
> The Flickr 400d group is very helpful also.

It's quite easy, you set up the tripod and set the exposure to bulb.
Lock the shutter with the cable release. Have a beer, once you have seen
a few good strikes release the trigger. Repeat.

Very easy.
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:10:54 GMT, "mcsteve" <mcstevex1350.RemoveThis@verizon.net>
wrote:

> "Pat" wrote:
> > It's simple. Go set up a really big mirror a long ways in the
> > opposite direction of the storm. Point the camera into the mirror.
> > Wait for a lightning strike. When you see it, hit your shutter and
> > capture the picture. Because the light goes to the mirror and bounces
> > back at you, you'll have plenty of time to get ready for it.
>
> That was pretty funny. What about the issue of constantly having to
> wipe the rain off the mirror?

Have you any idea how quickly light travels? You put the mirror a LONG
way in the opposite direction, beyond the edge of the storm.

If you put another mirror behind you then, if it turns out you missed
the lighting on the first attempt, you can keep turning round to have
another go.

--
Matthew Winn
[If replying by mail remove the "r" from "urk"]
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

"George Anderson" <Not_here RemoveThis @gone.com> wrote in message
news:fC1aj.2585$Bw2.475808@weber.videotron.net...
> Or patient during a good storm. Just shoot lots of frames (you'll have to
> play with exposure) and you should end up with a good shot.
> http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=185824
>
> George Anderson
>
> Annika1980 wrote:
>> On Dec 18, 8:40 am, Quadibloc <jsav... RemoveThis @ecn.ab.ca> wrote:
>>
>>> The way you have to do it, IIRC, is make a long exposure, and hope
>>> that a lightning bolt happens *during* the exposure, because a
>>> lightning bolt is over by the time you have reacted to it to press the
>>> shutter.
>>
>> Not if you are quick.
>>
>> http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/62735361
>> http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/54799895
>>
>> They also make a lightning trigger which will trigger the shutter when
>> lightning appears. I don't know how effective these devices are,
>> however.
>>
Lightening usually lasts quite a long time. (relatively) Sometimes for
several seconds....The problem is knowing where to point your camera....I
have found that using a wide angle lens, and being on top of a hill
overlooking the landscape beneath the storm is best.....(Be careful that you
aren't directly under the storm, of you may end up taking a photo of your
own demise.....)
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

"William Graham" <weg9 DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:7KudnTyBSZCFG_TanZ2dnUVZ_rSrnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
> "George Anderson" <Not_here DeleteThis @gone.com> wrote in message
> news:fC1aj.2585$Bw2.475808@weber.videotron.net...
>> Or patient during a good storm. Just shoot lots of frames (you'll have to
>> play with exposure) and you should end up with a good shot.
>> http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=185824
>>
>> George Anderson
>>
>> Annika1980 wrote:
>>> On Dec 18, 8:40 am, Quadibloc <jsav... DeleteThis @ecn.ab.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The way you have to do it, IIRC, is make a long exposure, and hope
>>>> that a lightning bolt happens *during* the exposure, because a
>>>> lightning bolt is over by the time you have reacted to it to press the
>>>> shutter.
>>>
>>> Not if you are quick.
>>>
>>> http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/62735361
>>> http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/54799895
>>>
>>> They also make a lightning trigger which will trigger the shutter when
>>> lightning appears. I don't know how effective these devices are,
>>> however.
>>>
> Lightening usually lasts quite a long time. (relatively) Sometimes for
> several seconds....The problem is knowing where to point your camera....I
> have found that using a wide angle lens, and being on top of a hill
> overlooking the landscape beneath the storm is best.....(Be careful that
> you aren't directly under the storm, of you may end up taking a photo of
> your own demise.....)
>
Clouds are like huge capacitors....they discharge via lightening to ground
through the resistance of the air, which can be quite large. Sometimes they
discharge to other clouds. The time it takes can be calculated with the
equations shown here:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/capdis.html#c2
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography 

Luke Carroll wrote:

> I am getting a digital SLR (400D) for Christmas and would like to get
> some winter storms. Are storms and lightning difficult to capture?
> This person explains it as easy, is it really as easy as point click and
> capture?
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/silvermoon/2051967191/
>
> Digital SLR seems so scary compared to the the old IXUS 800.
> I was lucky mom gave me the manual so I have studied up so hopefully I
> will be comfortable when I start.
>
> Does anyone else here use the 400d and am I able to ask some questions
> if i need advice?
> The Flickr 400d group is very helpful also.

I've used my 400D to get a few lightning shots, nothing overly dramatic as
yet, they were too far away really.

Few obvious tips, a) you'll need a tripod, b) you'll want a shutter release
cable, c) take a chair, d) take a lot of test shots to get the exposure
just right, oh yea last but certainly not least take an umbrella, just in
case. Then it's just a case of sit back, I was able to use 30second
exposures, and keep hitting that shutter release button every time the
shutter closes. And remember be patient, don't review, and don't stop
hitting the shutter release, cos if you do they'll be the strike of the
century right in front of the camera

Think I took 50-60 images and got about 4 good shots of lightning, though as
I said they were a long way away so not that clear.

Good luck
Duncan
 >> Stay informed about: Lightning Photography