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faisal
01-15-2009, 12:04 PM
We had a thunderstorm last month where it rained a lot. I tried to capture some lightning then but failed miserably...

So when me and my sister spotted some lightning at the other end of the city (which is supposedly flooded in some areas) I got my tripod out and camped out for 45mins in the balcony to capture some lightning. I did manage to get one decent shot....

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_6034.jpg
63mm, 5secs, f8 , ISO 100

If you look carefully you'll able to see a bit of the lightning....if you can't than just look at the following crop of the shot...

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_6034_small.jpg

Yup, that was my best shot from the balcony camping effort. :eek:

So then I decided to make my way to the roof of my building. Accompanied with my sister I made my way up 4 floors and camped up there for 30-40minutes. And then the frustration began. I kept missing the lightnings while changing angles or settings or just in between clicks. So then I put the camera in Burst mode, didn't change my angle and kept my finger on the shutter (I need a cable release) for the next 3-5mins. Still no luck. Then I shifted back to bulb mode and managed to capture this.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_6101_filtered.jpg
18mm, 19secs, f10, ISO 100 (cropped)

One of the several lightnings that struck Burj Dubai last night. I was thrilled but not satisfied. I wanted one of those funky bright lightning shots. After a few more minutes, I almost decided to go back inside cause a slight drizzle had started and I was shivering. I wished for just one more capture and my wish was fulfilled immediately...I captured this....

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_6123.jpg
21mm, 2secs, f8, ISO 100

I started jumping up and down cause this was officially my first proper lightning shot. Filled with excitement I decided to stick around for 10 more minutes (that got extended to 15minutes).

In between all the lightnings I managed to capture a shooting star!!!

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_6130.jpg
31mm, 4secs, f8, ISO 100

Just kidding, that's a plane just after take off!!! :p

Anyway I missed another lightning while I photographed my shooting star.

Got another shot where the Burj Dubai was hit...

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_6136_filtered.jpg
31mm, 2secs, f8, ISO 100

Now satisfied with my effort I decided to give it 5more minutes before I packed up. I am sooooo glad I spend those extra 5 mins....here's why

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_6150.jpg
31mm, 11secs, f8, ISO 100

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_6156.jpg
31mm, 16secs, f8, ISO 100

The wind had picked up and the storm was headed our way. I packed up and headed back inside completely thrilled.

I send my photos to the local news paper who have put it up online while my picture is also being shown on another local business website...

C&C welcome as usual...I hope you didn't get bored with my story!!!

TheWengler
01-15-2009, 12:09 PM
Awesome. I think bulb mode is the way to go for this type of thing. We don't get much lightning around here, so I haven't gotten the chance to try.

Rhys
01-15-2009, 01:04 PM
Yes. Bulb, a small aperture, slow ISO and pray.

adam75south
01-15-2009, 01:26 PM
not boring at all faisal. cool that you got your pic in the paper.

man i can only imagine what it would be like to be on the top few floors of the burj.

this makes me REALLY want my tripod head. my tripod came in yesterday so i can't wait.

Nickcanada
01-15-2009, 01:30 PM
Nice Faisal! good work.

adam75south
01-15-2009, 01:36 PM
it's funny you posted this bc i was taking pictures of the sky just this past weekend...with a crappy tripod/head and a remote shutter cable.

i never realized how fast the moon moves around the earth. kept having to move the camera angle up.
30s shutter.

michaelb
01-15-2009, 06:34 PM
That second to the last one is very cool faisal.

faisal
01-15-2009, 07:32 PM
Awesome. I think bulb mode is the way to go for this type of thing. We don't get much lightning around here, so I haven't gotten the chance to try.

Thanks....we get lightning maybe twice or thrice a year....

Yes. Bulb, a small aperture, slow ISO and pray.

Praying is the most important part... ;)

not boring at all faisal. cool that you got your pic in the paper.

man i can only imagine what it would be like to be on the top few floors of the burj.

this makes me REALLY want my tripod head. my tripod came in yesterday so i can't wait.

Not in the paper...on two online website of local publishers....
I don't want to imagine...I'm not tooo comfortable at heights!!!

Nice Faisal! good work.

Thanks nick!!!

it's funny you posted this bc i was taking pictures of the sky just this past weekend...with a crappy tripod/head and a remote shutter cable.

i never realized how fast the moon moves around the earth. kept having to move the camera angle up.
30s shutter.

That's a night shot!!! nice!!!
I use a video camera tripod, so I know crappy!!!! ;)

That second to the last one is very cool faisal.

Thanks Michael!!!

FLiPMaRC
01-16-2009, 10:22 AM
:cool: Cool shots! Especially the shooting star :) I saw my first shooting star only about a week ago.

faisal
01-16-2009, 10:31 AM
:cool: Cool shots! Especially the shooting star :) I saw my first shooting star only about a week ago.

You do know it's not a shooting star....that I was kidding...

FLiPMaRC
01-16-2009, 11:00 AM
You do know it's not a shooting star....that I was kidding...

Skimming FTL! :o LOL! It's a plane! :p

faisal
01-16-2009, 11:02 AM
:cool: Cool shots! Especially the shooting star :) I saw my first shooting star only about a week ago.

Skimming FTL! :o LOL! It's a plane! :p

you fell for it...seriously!!! :eek:

FTL???

FLiPMaRC
01-16-2009, 11:40 AM
you fell for it...seriously!!! :eek:

FTL???

I was just skimming the thread and didn't read everything.


FTL = For The Loose

FTW = For The Win

It's L33T talk ... LOL :D

faisal
01-16-2009, 12:39 PM
I was just skimming the thread and didn't read everything.


FTL = For The Loose

FTW = For The Win

It's L33T talk ... LOL :D

hehe....you're victim number 3... :D

L33T...I don't know what that is!!!

thaKing
01-16-2009, 02:23 PM
here ya go faisal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet_speak

simdog
01-17-2009, 10:02 AM
Nice photos faisal. I went out in the same storm got soaking wet through with no decent photos. It gave the wife somthing to laugh at anyway.

faisal
01-17-2009, 11:03 AM
Nice photos faisal. I went out in the same storm got soaking wet through with no decent photos. It gave the wife somthing to laugh at anyway.

you're from Dubai???

Welcome to the Forum...and thanks!! :)

Thanks for the link thaKing....

Lilchilichoco
01-22-2009, 07:20 AM
Better late than never. Absolutely amazing stuff Faisal. Well done. Perseverance must be your middle name. Congrats on getting it online too. Now you shoot me and you might help me get into something. Up for it?



Take care boy

faisal
01-22-2009, 08:21 AM
Better late than never. Absolutely amazing stuff Faisal. Well done. Perseverance must be your middle name. Congrats on getting it online too. Now you shoot me and you might help me get into something. Up for it?



Take care boy

Thank you!!!

I had to google the word 'Perseverance' to see what it meant... :o
I'm just suffering from something called obsessive compulsive disorder.. ;)

and Call me... :)