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Help on lightning shots

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Help on lightning shots

Postby SteveGriffin on Thu May 19, 2005 7:36 pm

Nasty storm approaching so I ducked outside to try and capture the action.

Can anyone give me any tips on capturing lightning. These 2 are pretty average in my opinion. I tried exposures between 3 & 15 seconds and a variety of apetures and these were the best of the bad bunch. Without the strikes the images around these in the sequence were totally black

We have had MANY strikes on the pole in the front yard so I was a bit hopeful that it might cooperate but no such luck today

Image

Image
Steve
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Postby kipper on Thu May 19, 2005 8:06 pm

Apparently the technique is to use bulb mode, open shutter a few seconds before the strike. Close shutter after strike. Then again this might be for only night captures of lightning. Not sure what apertures the guys use, probably fairly small/narrow (eg. F14+ I'd say).
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Postby xerubus on Thu May 19, 2005 8:12 pm

bulb mode doesn't seem to work with the (jaycar) remote since the firmware upgrade... shall advise later on...

your shots look fine.... i use f10 and vary shutter according to the conditions. M mode with manual focus set to infinity. Than just sit and enjoy the show. will post better details later on.

for anyone on the northside i'm heading over to redcliffe now to get some shots of the lightning over the water.... feel free to join me if you want :)

cheers
http://www.markcrossphotography.com - A camera, glass, and some light.
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Postby mateo on Fri May 20, 2005 3:43 am

Steve- That last shot is quite nice, though I would have cropped the right 1/4 of the picture because the lightning is a great visual lead and that side is just left hanging there. Great shots though.

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Postby SteveGriffin on Sun May 29, 2005 4:34 pm

Thanks for the tips guys. I have been overseas for a few days so a bit slow responding.
I was shooting f16 (I think) for 10 seconds. Set it up in manual and triggered with the remote.

The biggest problem that I found was that the lightning always seemed to flash when the shutter was closed between shots. :cry:
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Postby xerubus on Sun May 29, 2005 4:37 pm

your settings are fine.... if you sit and watch what the lightning is doing, you'll actually find a bit off a pattern of when strikes are going to occur.

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Postby stormygirl on Sun May 29, 2005 4:50 pm

Hi Steve,

I think what you have captured here is wonderful, of a very tricky and unpredictable subject, one I am yet to photograph myself (no storms!).

I have found a site you may be interested in from a well known and respected stormchaser. You may be surprised to see what equipment he uses!! If it is no help technically, then I'm sure you'll find his images inspirational!

I hope this is of some help to you!

http://www.lightningphotography.com/tips.html
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Postby Bruno on Sun May 29, 2005 4:53 pm

O.T.

xerubus wrote:bulb mode doesn't seem to work with the (jaycar) remote since the firmware upgrade... shall advise later on...

your shots look fine.... i use f10 and vary shutter according to the conditions. M mode with manual focus set to infinity. Than just sit and enjoy the show. will post better details later on.

for anyone on the northside i'm heading over to redcliffe now to get some shots of the lightning over the water.... feel free to join me if you want :)

cheers


With the latest 2.0 firmware i've been able to use bulb mode with my jaycar remote. Strange how yours doesnt seem to be able to :?

cheers
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Postby xerubus on Sun May 29, 2005 5:16 pm

Bruno wrote:O.T.

xerubus wrote:bulb mode doesn't seem to work with the (jaycar) remote since the firmware upgrade... shall advise later on...

your shots look fine.... i use f10 and vary shutter according to the conditions. M mode with manual focus set to infinity. Than just sit and enjoy the show. will post better details later on.

for anyone on the northside i'm heading over to redcliffe now to get some shots of the lightning over the water.... feel free to join me if you want :)

cheers


With the latest 2.0 firmware i've been able to use bulb mode with my jaycar remote. Strange how yours doesnt seem to be able to :?

cheers


:) this was discussed in another thread... my remote was the issue.. not the firmware :)

cheers
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