Grab Your Tripods and Cameras!!

You can keep it down South, clammy here in Aberdeen this evening though.
 
We've got it here in South Wales, I might go have a look at some techniques for taking pictures of lightning.

I'm assuming it would just be 1 second or so shutter speed ?
 
Well, to be honest i'm gutted...pictures here here for those interested.

Storm got as far as Bath/Glastonbery area and fizzled out, I'm hoping its going to burst back into life!!
 
laser_jock99 said:
Keep the shutter open till you think you've captured a flash. Then re-shoot.
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Ok stupid question alert :) but how do you do that? New to this lark so apologies.
 
giantwolf said:
Anyone?
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Basically, if you're shooting with a Canon... Scroll the shutter past 30" until it reaches "BULB" -- using bulb you can then open the shutter and close the shutter manually using a remote control. Bung it on ISO 100 and f/20 or something, then open the shutter and wait. If it goes past 30 seconds, quickly shut it and start again (you'll need to then use that image to judge how long to keep the shutter open to get the correct exposure). If you're lucky enough to capture the lightning whilst the shutter is open, quickly close it and open it again (take another shot) as the bright lightning will help expose the image.
 
laser_jock99 said:
Keep the shutter open till you think you've captured a flash. Then re-shoot.
Click to expand...

Not quite, set your shutter speed for exposing the surrounding area then leave it open for that long, don't shut it until the end of the exposure (even if you have a lightning strike). That way you have a nicely exposed image with a strike, not just a black (ish) photo with an arc of light.:)
 
Kryptix said:
Basically, if you're shooting with a Canon... Scroll the shutter past 30" until it reaches "BULB" -- using bulb you can then open the shutter and close the shutter manually using a remote control. Bung it on ISO 100 and f/20 or something, then open the shutter and wait. If it goes past 30 seconds, quickly shut it and start again (you'll need to then use that image to judge how long to keep the shutter open to get the correct exposure). If you're lucky enough to capture the lightning whilst the shutter is open, quickly close it and open it again (take another shot) as the bright lightning will help expose the image.
Click to expand...

Amp34 said:
Not quite, set your shutter speed for exposing the surrounding area then leave it open for that long, don't shut it until the end of the exposure (even if you have a lightning strike). That way you have a nicely exposed image with a strike, not just a black (ish) photo with an arc of light.:)
Click to expand...

Thanks both, I'll give it a go.

Richard.
 
what I have done in the past is to put it on bulb then cover the lens, without touching it, with a black piece of card then move it away when you want to, this way you can have your bulb open for a few minutes.
 
laser_jock99 said:
Keep the shutter open till you think you've captured a flash. Then re-shoot.
Click to expand...

willbaroo said:
I will have a read later but if you havent you could always mention the use of ND Filters.
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I haven't but I did wonder about mentioning ssomething about then (however my working knowledge is restricted to a 10 stop B&W ND). My one thought about them was that they would cause problems with exposure of the lightning itself, especially if added to an already small aperture?
 
Amp34 said:
Right, after reading this thread I decided to write a quick guide on my blog, would be interested to see what people thought (anything I missed out?), and hopefully useful to some people :)

http://wildaboutlife.net/wp/archives/137
Click to expand...

I am going to read this now. After a few attempts to capture some lightening shots in the storm we've just had I really need to get reading (no good shots at all just blackness :( ).
 
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