Lightning strikes!

[*Prairie Princess*]

I have never tried to capture lighting on "film", but Sun night produced a magnificent storm just as the sun was going down. It was so breathtakingly beautiful I had to try to capture a Little of it. Nate and I Had a blast seeing who had the fastest "trigger" finger I will definitely be doing more lightning photography in the future! what a fun and exciting challenge!




Thes is the first one I captured. It truly was a breathtaking sunset!



Nate "caught" this one just as it started to sprinkle (spots on the lens)


This was the last one I shot before it was time to head in...




If any of you out there have captured lightning on camera I would love to see it. I have seen some shots by professional photographers and after trying it myself I have an even deeper appreciation for their skill.

[Len Backus]

Very cool!

I am told Arizona has spectacular lightning storms in late summer. One of my personal "1,000 Things To Do Before I Die" is to go there one August day and photograph the lightning.

[gamedog]

Great shots!
Thanks for posting

[*Prairie Princess*]

Originally Posted by Len Backus

Very cool!

I am told Arizona has spectacular lightning storms in late summer. One of my personal "1,000 Things To Do Before I Die" is to go there one August day and photograph the lightning.

That sounds completely exciting! We don't have a terrible lot of lightning here, but this was a spectacular show!

*Prairie Princess*

[Wildcat Bullets]

The two easiest ways of taking pictures of lightning are:

1. Use very slow shutter speeds in the range of minutes 1-10+ with your camera on a tripod. This works best when it's night. Can be done in the daytime by stacking neutral density filters if necessary.

2. Use a lightning activated camera shutter trigger. Here's a link to one: Capture the Lightning Landscape with the Lightning Trigger! These work well day or night.



Paul

[*Prairie Princess*]

Originally Posted by Wildcat Bullets

The two easiest ways of taking pictures of lightning are:

1. Use very slow shutter speeds in the range of minutes 1-10+ with your camera on a tripod. This works best when it's night. Can be done in the daytime by stacking neutral density filters if necessary.

2. Use a lightning activated camera shutter trigger. Here's a link to one: Capture the Lightning Landscape with the Lightning Trigger! These work well day or night.



Paul

Hey, thanks for the great advise. I never heard of a lightning activated trigger. Seems like you would have a greater success rate.....I think I got a bout 10-15
missed shots.

I was away from home and didn't have my equipment with so this was off hand shooting.

*Prairie Princess*

[yotefever]

Back in the early 70's when I got my first 35mm camera, SRT 101, getting lightning strikes was one of my priorities. Didn't get many, even holding open the shutter- they always waited until I gave up and closed the lens.
On our first trip out West while in the Badlands we had a storm with lots of lightning and no rain and I finally got some pics,just before our camper was damaged.
The apartment building where I met my wife, 28 years ago, there was another amateur photographer that went through the ceiling of an apartment after trying to get to the roof to get a pic of lightning, so be careful out there. ;-)) and it wasn't me.