Lightning Storm in Melbourne (2 img)

[Aussie Dave]

Managed to snap these 2 images thru the window whilst the gods of thunder were putting on a show.

Both handheld with kit lens, shooting through the window (hence not the best quality). It even knocked the power out for a minute or so.....





Lightning is so amazing. Without the lightning strike, these exposures were completely dark, except for the lights....but when the lightning struck, it was like daytime (and the strike only lasted a very small fraction of the total exposure).

Simply astounding....

[PiroStitch]

what the heck? All i saw from my end was crappy sheet lightning which just lit up the clouds No chains like that....maybe I should consider moving up north a bit

[birddog114]

Aussie Dave,
Very good timing! you had to hold the camera steady in your hand and be ready to:
1/ take the pictures.
2/ ready to run

Well capture guy!

[BBJ]

Hey Dave good capture, hard to get stuff this and yeh well we didn't get any here but it teemed down here and well i am off to work shortley so look like i might get a wet bum when i get outa the truck.
Well caught.

[Aussie Dave]

Yes it was very interesting, and didn't it absolutely pour down with rain ?!?!?.

Pirostitch - would you believe this was sheet lightning ? The whole sky would light up, and it was so quick, you couldn't anticipate it (hence the long exposure times)....but when I looked back at the photos after the shot was taken, low and behold there were bolts of lightning showing up.

It's just a pity the background wasn't more scenic

[NJ]

Last night was my first attempt at shooting lightning. It took me a while to get the exposure right but did not get any forks, just electric blue sky. What exposure did you use?

[Jonesy]

Well I know I am jealous... Well done... I'd be happy with them

A great lightning shot is all I am after (then I would have to get a better one) but we just dont get decent (if any) storms down here... and if we do then its the side of one and well... the conditions are never in my favour!

Like BBJ said, we just end up getting wet bums!

[LostDingo]

Good work, unless you have some continous lightning not an easy catch!

[Aussie Dave]

Last night was my first attempt at shooting lightning. It took me a while to get the exposure right but did not get any forks, just electric blue sky. What exposure did you use?

I varied the exposures between 1 & 4 seconds....but as I was handholding them, I didnt want to go too long, or it would be hard to keep the camera still enough for that long.

[stormygirl]

Great stuff Dave! What a ripper of a storm she was too! I was in 2 minds about going up to a vantage point and attempting to take some shots before it got too close, but there was dinner, and bath the kids etc....maybe next time!! It's only the start of the storm season so hopefully there will be plenty of more ops!

[Nicole]

I was wondering last night whether you'd be out Jane chasing that storm. I wasn't expecting it so it was definitely a nice surprise.

Cool shots Dave!