how to photograph lightning..

[Denis]

In the off chance we will get a storm tonight, what would be the best setting in regard to white balance, aperture and shutter speed with my D3000 using the standard 18-55 lens. I would like to 'prime' it up on the off chance of catching something worthwhile.

 

Or, would my prime f1.8 35mm lens be a better option?

 

I know it is one of the most difficult things to photograph as you get no warning, and from what I have read in the past people spend many hours trying to photograph lightning, but hey ho, willing to at least give it a bash

[JohnP]

You need to go well away from any street lighting, mount your camera on a tripod and use the 'B' setting after a while the recorded image will fog. Repeat ...all the time pointing the camera in the direction of the storm, eventually you may be lucky to catch lighting in the shot. I'm not sure of the actual settings... trial and error I guess. I'm sure others will add more in due course.

 

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-lightning

Edited July 22, 2013 by JohnP

[NannyFerret]

I have read in various places that it's risking damage to your camera if your are outside with it in the lightening.

I would definitely stay behind glass to do any shooting

[colinb]

You need to go well away from any street lighting, mount your camera on a tripod and use the 'B' setting after a while the recorded image will fog. Repeat ...all the time pointing the camera in the direction of the storm, eventually you may be lucky to catch lighting in the shot. I'm not sure of the actual settings... trial and error I guess. I'm sure others will add more in due course.

 

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-lightning

 

lowest iso, manual focus to infinity, and as john says get away from or above the street lights - one I shot a couple of years back. no forked lightening as it just rolled around behind cloud cover.

 

[FUJI]

Acquire a large reel of thin braided copper wire, attach your camera on Bulb setting to one end together with a good Box Kite..............as a thunderstorm develops stand on the top of a hill so that the kite soars into the thunder cloud.......You will have no need of a Flash.

After a while you will feel really fired up.

FUJI

[NannyFerret]

I don't want to put you off, but maybe you should read this first.

 

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/lightning-thunder-myths-facts.html

[colinb]

I don't want to put you off, but maybe you should read this first.

 

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/lightning-thunder-myths-facts.html

hell no - just go do it    get that once in a lifetime picture, we will enjoy it even if you're no longer around to view it 

[JohnP]

Hardly anyone gets struck by lightning and those that do are nearly always on high ground and out in the open. Open spaces like golf courses are the most likely place to get struck and even then the storm has to be over head or extremely close. Just don't go waving a golf club or carbon fishing rod about in the air. If you should get caught in this sort of situation you should kneel down with your bum as high as possible and your head as low as possible but not touching the ground. If you should be struck the lightning bolt will strike your bottom and take a route down your back and legs to ground. With luck your head will not be struck like if you were standing upright. It's usually strikes to the head that kill people.

Edited July 23, 2013 by JohnP

[Denis]

Acquire a large reel of thin braided copper wire, attach your camera on Bulb setting to one end together with a good Box Kite..............as a thunderstorm develops stand on the top of a hill so that the kite soars into the thunder cloud.......You will have no need of a Flash.

After a while you will feel really fired up.

FUJI

 

Have I done something to upset you????

[Guest DaveW]

It usually rains with thunder and lightning and most cameras don't like heavy rain so take care. See:-

 

http://www.exposureguide.com/lightning-photography-tips.htm

 

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-lightning

 

http://petapixel.com/2013/04/10/how-to-photograph-lightning-from-start-to-finish/

 

http://www.lightstalking.com/how-to-photograph-lightning

 

Never believe the old saying lightning never strikes twice either, so don't take risks:-

 

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-man-who-was-stuck-lightning-seven-times

 

You may even be safer photographing lightning from inside a metal roofed car, but not a rag top or fibreglass one:-

 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_are_you_generally_safe_inside_an_automobile_during_a_lighting_storm

[FUJI]

Have I done something to upset you????

It is a joke,.......just me being me......sorry..... hope you didn't really take me seriously ;-)

FUJI

[Denis]

Heh heh!

 

no Fooj, my reply wasnt serious either!...we must be even  My boss must have something against me though, he wants me to wave my 10 metre crane mast about in a thunderstorm, thats as bad as your reel of copper wire!

Edited July 23, 2013 by ChroNikon

[FUJI]

A 30 metre crane eh?......the top of that would make an ideal platform from which to fly your copper- cabled kites and camera.....just think of the............. BRILLIANT! .....Close- Ups .....you would get.

FUJI

[JohnP]

Three miles for me is a TV transmitter mast, it's 540 feet high and standing on a hill which makes the top of the mast 1,191 feet above sea level. I can clearly see the mast from my lounge window. When I was watching the storm early yesterday morning I was hoping to see a bolt of lightning going down the lightning conductor, this didn't happen as we only had sheet lightning.