Lightning Techinque

[edneeves]

Having just got my moon shot the next one on the list is lightning. I was rather hoping that those in the know could share some of their secrects and (or) techniques so that I (and anyone else) has a decent starting point when the fireworks begin.

For example:

Does anyone have any good ideas on how to predict when storms are likely in your area?

What are decent shutterspeeds and aperture settings to start off with?

What do you do if you get the exposure wrong?

Any thoughts would be appreciated (by me anyway).

Cheers,

Ed.

[Michael]

Well I keep a close eye on the weather radar at http://www.bom.gov.au

then I find myself the tallest possible spot for the area in which the storm is likely to approach from kinda dangerous, but worth it for a good shot.

aperture around 5 - 8 according to the light the storm produces whether its producing alot of lightning or a small amount of lightning etc.

shutterspeed
Bulb is good if there isn't much action but 30 seconds is usually plenty long enough to capture anything that happens.

and also alot of patience is required sometimes it may take hours to get a perfect/good shot and if the shot is over exposed or under exposed just keep going until storm isn't producing anymore lightning.

[edneeves]

Do you ever find you have problems with overexposure?

Ed.

[Michael]

not usually I try to expose for when/if lighting occurs, but overexposure is rarely a problem.

[Dug]

then I find myself the tallest possible spot for the area in which the storm is likely to approach from kinda dangerous, but worth it for a good shot.

Sorry it is not worth dying for It is not "Kinda dangerous" it is stupid. If you are anywhere near a storm get under cover that is dry or stay inside a parked car.

You are looking at several MILLION volts and a significant blast area around it lightning can also strike many miles in front of a storm so just because the storm is in the distance you are not safe.

We do not want to read about Ex-DSLR photographers in the morning paper.

You do not get a second chance.

[Michael]

You can't exatcly take good lightning shots in the middle of a storm when the lightning is striking right next to you.

get on a high spot and watch storm approaching obviously if there is lightning striking nearby im not going to hang around, common sense usually prevails in those circumstances.

To give you an idea of the perspective in which I mean is best for viewing storms here is an example photo posted on here before.



I hope this allows you to have a clearer understanding of my post

Michael

[lkgrainger]

Here are a couple of mine. I had around 2hrs from when I started to see the storm till it rained so plenty of time to grab some shots, taken between 5-30 sec and f8-12 focus set to infinity. And on another note your more than likely to get hit on our roads than by a strike.
More on my site.