Awesome Lightning Photography

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by star17, Aug 13, 2006.

  1. star17

    star17 MajorGeek

    star17, Aug 13, 2006
    #1
  2. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Superb stuff :)

    I still love watching nightime thunderstorms, nature at its beautiful and destructive sides.
     
    DavidGP, Aug 13, 2006
    #2
  3. G.T.

    G.T. R.I.P February 4, 2007. You will be missed.

    Some great pics. Always love watching it; right up to the point where it starts taking out things in my house. LOL.
     
    G.T., Aug 13, 2006
    #3
  4. matt.chugg

    matt.chugg MajorGeek

    Wow there some really great photos there, I love lightning (and thunder) although I have no idea why,
     
    matt.chugg, Aug 14, 2006
    #4
  5. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    Those pix certainly beat the hell out of my first attempts with my reasonbly new (first) digital camera. Bazza
     
    bigbazza, Aug 14, 2006
    #5
  6. JimSpriggs

    JimSpriggs Private E-2

    This is from a chap in Darwin ( Northern Territory Australia) who was having a BBQ in the backyard I think and this hapened next door.
    I forget the detail but he said it was a lucky shot.
    I've had lightning across the street and the noise is really frightening.
    http://img148.imagevenue.com/loc450/th_06131_Lightning_450lo.jpg
     
    JimSpriggs, Aug 14, 2006
    #6
  7. Heather Ann

    Heather Ann Private E-2

    WOW!

    I still blame an amazing thunderstorm for agreeing to marry my husband.

    best. storm. ever.

    :D
     
    Heather Ann, Aug 15, 2006
    #7
  8. DAKz

    DAKz Corporal

    Way cool!! Would make better wallpaper for Vista then the stupid shot of a blade of grass!
     
    DAKz, Aug 16, 2006
    #8
  9. Jackie

    Jackie Private E-2

    Awesome! I absolutely LOVE storms even though they scare the crap outta me sometimes. I remember trying to take pictures of lightning when I was younger... didn't work out too well.. lol. =D
     
    Jackie, Aug 17, 2006
    #9
  10. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Can give instructions for film capture of lightning ....if any one wants. Really quite simple.:) :)
     
    TimW, Aug 17, 2006
    #10
  11. Dreamer

    Dreamer Corporal

    hahaha, I thought that was pretty dumb when I saw it.
     
    Dreamer, Aug 17, 2006
    #11
  12. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    Don't be bashful, TimW.:D Let us know how, plz. :cool: Bazza

    ===

     
    bigbazza, Aug 18, 2006
    #12
  13. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I'm not bashful (Dopey, maybe, but that's another matter ...)

    Equipment needed
    1) Camera with a "B" - bulb - setting
    2) Cable release for the shutter
    3) Tripod
    4) 100 asa film


    Set the shutter to bulb (B) ...aperature to f16/22
    Put camera on tripod and affix cable release.

    Aim in the general direction of the lightning (don't zoom in too far as it usually is in a "general" area ,,,unless it is really confined

    Be somewhere that does not have a lot of extraneous light ....

    After you are sure that you are focused fairly well (the aperture of f22 will help that) ....and there is a pause in the lightning ....press the shutter release and lock it in position (ie: open the curtain and leave it open).

    Wait ....

    After a good strike, release the shutter ....advance the film, do it all again and

    Wait.....

    After two or three stikes, release the shutter ....

    Do it all again

    Also works for fireworks ....

    If you can do double exposures on your camera ...great way to do scenics with buildings / boats in a harbor, etc :
    Same equipment ....under expose the first shot at dusk by one/two stops.....
    After the harbor lights/building lights/boat lights have come on ...shoot it again at a normal exposure - and you better not have moved anything!!
    In fact you may want to use a tie down from the center of the tripod to the ground so that it is absolutely stable.
    Cheers.
     
    TimW, Aug 18, 2006
    #13
  14. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    How about for digital cameras, :p with none of most of that? :D . Bazza
     
    bigbazza, Aug 20, 2006
    #14
  15. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Bazza ...will work if the digital has controls to set aperture and shutter speed.
     
    TimW, Aug 20, 2006
    #15
  16. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    Gonna have to RTFM again,;) but most cheaper ones's don't. :p Bazza

    ===

     
    bigbazza, Aug 21, 2006
    #16
  17. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Bazza ....Real men don't read the directions or ask for same ....that's what women were made for.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
     
    TimW, Aug 22, 2006
    #17
  18. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    No women handy :D unfortunately. Bazza

    ===

     
    bigbazza, Aug 22, 2006
    #18
  19. hulkster

    hulkster HULK SMASH!

    Bazza,

    Ditto what Tim said - just put the digicam on the tripod on longest possible exposure and hope you get lucky. Take a few practice shots (that's the great thing about digicams) and fiddle with aperature and ISO to insure that the background isn't totally dark or totally lit up. Then fire away ... hopefully from a safe place ... rest assured any lightning strikes will be lit up *real* well.

    I had my webcam running during a lightning storm in Colorado and while it wasn't pointed at the sky to catch the strike, it lit things up pretty well as you can see.
     
    hulkster, Aug 24, 2006
    #19
  20. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    I've lent my digital (still) camera and instructions to Number 1 son. He is part of the crew on a 2 week boat trip to Thursday Island, from Cairns, and return. An Island just off the most northern tip of Australia. Will check the manual again, but from what I remember (I don't use the camera very often) there is a night setting but unable to fiddle with aperture setting. Bazza
    PS: Link to Thursday Island
    http://www.ozoutback.com.au/postcards/postcards_forms/tsi_ti_1/index.htm

    Link to Bamaga (most northern town of Mainland Australia).
    http://eis.net.au/~nqtds/fnq/2ptb09.html
    Bazza

    ===

     
    bigbazza, Aug 25, 2006
    #20

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