DSLRUsers.com

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:26 pm**

We've got a bit of lightning around at the moment here in Brisbane.... here's some to get started... off to get some more.

Unfortunately they are all a bit bland as i'm not at a location which has any decent foreground or background... but none-the-less, if you like lightning happy snaps I hope you enjoy.... all resized to a descent internet size... most shots are full frame in the originals.

cheers

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:35 pm**

Those are absolutely amazing - I am in Brissie and I still don't know how you got those. The colours in the third one are beautiful but I particularly like the last two where the light is illuminating the clouds - magical. I like them without the typical dark foreground and horizon elements.

Tell me how did you took these... please?

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:42 pm**

sorry all... i've just lowered the quality so that the shots can be browsed quicker...

Rebecca... it's actually extremely simple.... my setup is like this:

d70 on trip.
28mm lens.
f/11
camera in manual mode and lens also manual... set lens to infinity.
camera set to remote shutter release and then it's just a matter of opening the shutter, waiting until you get the shot, and then close the shutter.

i use a piece of black cardboard to put in front of the lens when there is no lightning around while the shutter is still open... just to stop unwanted light getting in.... watch the clouds and what's happening, and then remove the cardboard. get the shot then either put the cardboard in front or close the shutter and start again.

the 'bluer' shots where while the sun was still up... used a CPL, set ev to -5, and used f22. as it got darker i set everything as to above.

patience is the key... took about 150 shots just to get these. next time i'll remember the aeroguard...

there are a lot more learned people on this forum when it comes to lightning and storm photography, just listen to what they have to say and learn from them

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:46 pm**

Well Xerubus, you just answered one of the questions I was gunna ask - so you took 150 shots and ended up with these keepers?

I wish I had the patience/motivation to shoot lightning.

These are wonderful.

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:50 pm**

thanks onyx....

yes... unfortunately i've wasted a lot of shutter action tonight just to get half a dozen or so shots... usually you don't have to waste shots, but as it's not really a good electrical show, mostly blanket stuff.. it's a bit of keep going until there are some keepers.... i'm looking forward to some real storms to come through...

patience isn't a problem if you are prepared... when a storm comes through i grab a nice bottle of red, a packet of b&h... and just ride the wave

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:53 pm**

Cool lightning pics. I think my favourite is the third one because of the colour of the sky and the lighting with it. Good one!

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:03 pm**

i'm glad you enjoyed nicole...

cheers

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:03 pm**

Very nice pics - I spent the evening clicking away to get SFA - no red and half a pack Marlboro

Chris

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:53 pm**

just a couple more before the storm moved away....

cheers

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:56 pm**

Geez!
Mate you got it!

I have tried for soooooo long to get some good lightning pics...

*sigh*

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:58 pm**

thanks MHD....

honestly... it's not that hard....

next is to try and get some decent shots with landscape included.. stuff like raydar does

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:01 pm**

Mate, you have got it going on!!!

They are amazing!

Glenn

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:05 pm**

thanks glenn... much appreciated...

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:18 pm**

xerubus wrote:thanks MHD....

honestly... it's not that hard....

next is to try and get some decent shots with landscape included.. stuff like raydar does

HAH!
try telling that to old mother nature!

Did you use a ND filter?

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:21 pm**

no ND... don't have one... but i will be investing in one...

used a CPL, set ev to -5, and used f22 for the first 3 shots which were during daylight hours... then just took off the cpl, went to f11, and averaged around 6 seconds shutter per shot.... all manual...

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:25 pm**

me too.... I have had many situations where one would have been handy!

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:31 pm**

Awsome stuff mate!!!!
I had a chance to do a little chasing today, not much lightning about down here but we got a decent cell that tryed to run us over :wink:

Cheers
Ray

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:34 pm**

wow... that's some heavy rain.... you need to come up this way for a little holiday... should start getting a few storms a little more often for the next few weeks or so....

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:37 pm**

Keep an eye on the W horizon over the next two days!!!!
The set up is turning to severe weather for NNSW - SEQLD :wink:

Cheers
Ray

Posted: **Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:50 am**

xerubus wrote:no ND... don't have one... but i will be investing in one...

One thing to be careful with... With my lightning shot,...

...I got some reflections of the main bolt - we think this was on the ND filter I had on. This was a Cokin - not sure if the same would happen with a screw-in.

Posted: **Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:57 am**

Wow. These are all great! Looks like you got a real downpour their Raydar. Haven't had a storm down here in ages (unless they had one while we were away). Nothing like a good storm!

Posted: **Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:01 am**

Nicole wrote:Wow. These are all great! Looks like you got a real downpour their Raydar. Haven't had a storm down here in ages (unless they had one while we were away). Nothing like a good storm!

Nicole,
Sorry, it's sheepie, he took it over the Xmas time up the North Coast, and he printed it out on the super A3 at my base last couple weeks.
Look great after it finished.

Posted: **Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:35 am**

Birddog114 wrote:
Nicole wrote:Wow. These are all great! Looks like you got a real downpour their Raydar. Haven't had a storm down here in ages (unless they had one while we were away). Nothing like a good storm!

Nicole,
Sorry, it's sheepie, he took it over the Xmas time up the North Coast, and he printed it out on the super A3 at my base last couple weeks.
Look great after it finished.

That's right the lightning image isn't mine "I wish it was" :wink:

Nicole – yes the rain rate from that cell was recorded at 154mm an hour at Goonellabah were we ended up getting right in the middle of it, got a fear bit of hail out of it to :shock:

Cheers
Ray

Posted: **Sat Jan 22, 2005 9:19 am**

Raydar wrote:Keep an eye on the W horizon over the next two days!!!!
The set up is turning to severe weather for NNSW - SEQLD

Cheers
Ray

excellent... thanks....

i'd better go get some more red wine then

Posted: **Sun Jan 23, 2005 8:12 am**

xerubus wrote:
Raydar wrote:Keep an eye on the W horizon over the next two days!!!!
The set up is turning to severe weather for NNSW - SEQLD

Cheers
Ray

excellent... thanks....

i'd better go get some more red wine then

& more today :wink:

Cheers
Ray

Posted: **Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:27 am**

good .... now i can say that i only drink red wine because mother nature forces me to...

Posted: **Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:53 pm**

Wow, these lightning shots are awsome...

When trying for these, do you park yourself under some form of cover from rain to protect your camera and gear, or umbrella etc?

Just curious... Never tried it so I have no idea... After seeing these, I'll have to give it a go...

Cheers,
Mudder

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(4 more added) Some lightning in Brisbane.

(4 more added) Some lightning in Brisbane.