How do you take a picture of lightning?

Answer 1

Very carefully.

Answer 2

taking pictures of lightning is very hard to do but youu can get some really cool results. What you need is a decent, study tripod and a film camera which has abulb shutter option. This means the shutter willm stay open as long as the button is pushed. If you can get a remote relese all the better. When you know a storm is coming and lightning is expected you can set the camera up taking care to be in an area where you are not in danger. You need a slow film too so you can hve a long exposure without ruining your pictures. Time the lightning so you know when the 1st and 2nd strokes are and open the shutter after 1 storke and close it again after the 2nd. Hopefully you will then have a decent picture.
Alternatively make yourself a pin hole camera using a plastic container with a lid, like an icecream tub. Put a small hole in the lid and cover this with a piece of dark tape, black electrician tape is best. Paint the inside of your tub black and when its dry your ready to go. Get hold of some black and white photographic paper from any good photography store. In a darkened room place one piece of paper inside you tub and put the lid back on.
When a storm is due place the tub on a window ledge so that the hole is pointing towards the sky and the lightning and then remove the tape. After the lightning strikes cover your hole back up and youre ready to develope your picture. The shop you get the paper from will sell and advised you on the corect chemicals to use for this. Good luck and happy snapping

Answer 3

The following are a must:

1. Camera with a bulb or continuous setting. The bulb setting allows you to hold the shutter open for an indefinate time.

2. A sturdy tripod to hold the camera. The idea is to wait with the shutter open until the lighting bolt(s) flash.

3. A manual override on the camera. You need to be able to tell the camera to ignore lighting conditions.

4.Some type of outdoor shelter. I use the back hatch on my Jeep Cherokee since it lifts upward. I can sit on the rear bumper and stay out of the rain, or inside the car with a long cable release.

5. A long cable release. The cable release is a remote shutter trigger. It allows you to keep away from the camera and not shake it when you open the shutter.

6. Choice of film. Slow speed films (i.e. ASA 50) are better than high speed films. High speed films will collect extranious ambient light more quickly. Color films will also show a purple cast in the clouds and the lightning tends to look yellow to orange. No color problems with B&W.

7. Lots of luck! Luck will bring you the best results. Try not to get too many bolts of lightning in one shot. The more you get, the less dramatic it becomes, IMHO. Do it often and you will find that you get better as time goes by. You develop an instinct for how much lightning makes a good image!

Answer 4

As an old school photographer....I was taught that you have to sit outside, far away from the lightning, and mount your 35 mm camera on a tripod. Using a shutter release cable , have the lens open, and the f- stop open as well. Sit and wait. After you have seen 3 or 4 strikes of lightning, close the shutter and advance to the next frame. I do not know how to take a picture of lightning using a digital camera, hopefully some one else will. Have fun and be safe

Answer 5

Modern cameras cant really do it with any certainty. Old cameras had a B setting on the shutter button which would mean that you could leave the shutter open. In a thunderstorm you could set up the camera real still, open the shutter for maybe five minutes.

If you like Photography take a look at American Photographers Ansel Adams, he took some night sky photographs by this method and they are amazing

Answer 6

The best way to capture lightning is to use a digital camera hold it in a certain spot and aim toward the clouds producing the lightning, click at 5 second intervals.

Otherwise use a old fashion camera, set it on a timer at 5 second intervals.

Answer 7

I am not a very experienced photographer, but stealing that mighty force of nature.. always thrill me. The problem is it is something we dont get often.

But what would I do, if I do not have much knowledge about the camera and all..

I would go for a camera that can take continues shots.. Just keep the button down and let the camera do its job. I have not very powerful digial camera by Canon, but it does that trick so well. You may want to set the ISO as well. A tripod would be perfect addition for this adventure.

Answer 8

If you are shooting at night...
1 - Put your camera on a tripod, stop down app. to smallest (f16 or f22) set focus to infinity
2 - If you have a SLR camera, put it to the "B" or Bulb Setting, which means that the shutter stays open as long as you keep you finger on it (or use a cable release and hold down), press the shutter and keep holding down until lightning flashes
3 - As soon as the lightning flashes, let go of shutter
4 - repeat as often as you can to improve your chances of getting a good shot

If you have a digital camera... i have no idea

Answer 9

Set up camera with fast colour or b/w film on firm tripod under shelter. Wait for a dark interval Open lense and leave open for time exposure. Close lense after lightning. Several times. Hope for best!

Answer 10

A decent camera with bulb setting, Tripod, Shutter Release Cable & a bit of Luck!

Answer 11

Use time lapse photography without a flash.....
here are a list of things to try.....
You will need a tripod for this And a long shutter release cable or remote control......



1. if your Camera is manual put it on its longest exposure or B for bulb....
2. If it does not have Manual then set it for night time photography with out a flash.....
3. There are a few other things to do but it is hard to explain without having a visual reference for you.......