what is the best way to take photos of lightning?

Answer 1

You need a minimum of 3 things. First, you need a camera that will allow you to open and close the shutter when you decide. More technical cameras have a setting labeled "B" for Bulb. This comes from a time when you needed to squeeze a bulb at the end of a remote shutter release.

The second thing is a cable release. This is the modern answer to that old fashioned bulb release. Also, some older cameras had a "T" setting. This was a way to click once to open the shutter and click a second time to close the shutter.

The third thing you need is a tripod or other device to hold the camera perfectly still. Obviously, you can't hold a camera steady for more than a fraction of a second. The tripod allows you to steady the camera and when you lock the lens open on the B or T setting, you can wait for the lightning to flash and then close the shutter. If you want more than one lightning strike, you can leave the shutter open longer. Remember the more time you leave it open the longer it will collect ambient light as well. Light from street lights, traffic lights, stars (if out) and any other light source will reflect off objects in your picture frame so you could end up with more than just lightning if the shutter is open for a long time. Also, with color film you will tend to notice the sky turning purple from the lightning. Lightning is a "cold" light source like flourescence, as opposed to a light like tungsten or mercury vapor which are "warm" light sources.

You can also add filters to "color" the lightning if shooting with color film. This can produce some very strange and dramatic effects, but be careful not to move the camera if you are going to use multiple filters on the same exposure!

So pay attention to the surroundings and the possiblilities of light spilling over from buildings, street lights, houses, etc and then open the shutter and just wait for the lightning. Then close the shutter, advance the film and try again! Good Luck!

Answer 2

Need an SLR camera and a good tripod or firm surface.
The exposure can be timed, leaving the aparture open.
Through this method, multiple lightning strikes can be recorded on the photo.

Works with both film and digital SLR's.

Answer 3

I think they use cameras that allow you to hold the shutter open for a long time. In other words, the "snap" takes minutes instead of a fraction of a second.