How do u photograph lightining?

Question

Wat lens wd i require & how can u set it/ snap to the correct timing?

Answer 1

Get a tripod, a remote cable release, and a piece of black cardboard. You are going to take very long exposures, so make sure that the place is pitch dark... this wouldn't work if there's sunlight.

Rather than a long lens, use wide angle since lightening is pretty unpredictable and you want to cover much of the sky. Later you can crop the image if you wish.

Check what part of the sky has the highest concentration of lightening. Then, set the camera to "b" or "bulb" position, or if your camera doesn't have it, use the slowest possible speed (at least 15 to 30 seconds).

When lightening starts, press the release and hold it. Hopefully there are several lightening strikes and you'll get some. If you weren't lucky, you can put the cardboard in front and wait until more lightening happens. When it happens, take out the cardboard. This way you can get many lightening strikes in one single frame.

This works best with fairly low ISO, and with film rather than digital. If you use digital the sensor will most likely introduce noise that you'll need to remove later.

Answer 2

First you will have to have a camera that you can set to manual exposure and manual focus your camera lens at infinity. Use a sturdy tripod (if you do not have a tripod you can use a bag of sand, rice, kitty litter anything that the camera can rest on and stay stable), if you do not have a cable release then you can use the "Self Timer". Set your camera at ISO 100, manual mode, go for a 10" sec exposure to start at F~9. or F~11 (I do not know the camera you are using but one of those should be there). In most case you want to be able to shoot when the storm is at a good distance across a big valley, or along the coast if that is where you live. If this is a good storm you will be able to time when the lightning strikes (ie., every 15 seconds when you count to 10 press the shutter, your exposure will give a few seconds before and after your lightning). If you can change the settings for your self timer to fire sooner this will help, if not you will have to compensate for this to get your image. Take a look at your image on the back and if you see the "lightning" then you are good and just continue. If you go to long of an exposure on digital cameras you will get "Noise" little white specs that look like it is snowing and that is no good.

Also a fast CFC or SD (x80, x120 etc) card will work better because it will write faster so you can keep shooting.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonfotos100/646490857/in/set-72157600529710732/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonfotos100/647358524/in/set-72157600529710732/

Also think SAFETY while doing this you do not want to stand in an open field, or under the only tree in a field.

Hope that helps,
Kevin

Answer 3

If you are shooting when it is dark out, get a tripod. You will need one as your exposures will be long. Get a digital or film camera that is capable of exposures up to 15 seconds. Do a few test shots (on digital) to get the correct exposure and other settings. I use a low ISO, around 100 - 200. Doing your test shots, you want to have a bit of the horizon on the bottom while aiming your camera high above. Manual focus is usually best for this. You want your horizon to be almost black and your sky to be a bit lighter.
After all is set up, try an 8-12 second exposure. If there is any lightning within that time, it will be captured and your entire photo will be lighter than what you got in test shots. If you don't get any lightning, try going for a longer exposure or just keep shooting. It takes patience and you may not capture anything the first time but keep trying!

Answer 4

Well:

First, you want slow film. ASA 1200 or so would help.

Second, you want to photograph lightning at night or in extremely dark conditions--and of course, you're waiting for the start of a thunderstorm (gee I love stating the obvious).

Choose a telephoto lens setting that frames enough of the sky to include an entire lightning bolt. Tripod the camera and point it at a region of sky where lightning is happening. Choose "bulb" setting for the exposure, and open the shutter and wait. Eventually (you hope) a bolt will flash in the right part of the sky where you've aimed your camera; at that point release the lens and (if desired) try again.

Note that lightning almost always strikes high ground/towers/other elevated conductors, so choose a part of the sky where those conditions prevail.

Another approach--also fun--is to choose a wide-angle lens that takes in a big expanse of horizon, open the shutter, and leave it open for multiple lighting strikes. I've seen photos like that--one of the Empire State Building, which acts as a lightning rod for much of Manhattan--and they're intriguing.

Answer 5

I think TR meant SLOW film - ISO 100, 200. ISO 1200 is very fast. Of course the same applies to setting the ISO on your digital camera.