Lightning 2009

[Spookonthe8ball]

Just a shot from last month. It was my first photo opportunity for lightning this year. 1st photo is the original, 2nd is a crop of it. No post processing except for a crop. Jet stream has moved north and south of us, so my lightning pics may be very limited this season. Feel free to post any that you have.
Spook

[TheWengler]

I don't have anything to contribute, but that's very cool. I don't get many opportunities to do this type of thing.

[Spookonthe8ball]

Thanks Wengler. I don't get many opportunities as well. If the storm is right over us I don't stay if the hail is pelting down on my camera. In a previous post ( to Spinning) a tornado warning was issued and I shot a lightning shot without a tripod right before going to the "fraddie hole". Nighttime storms like the one in this post slid just to my southeast, so I was able to luck into the shot where it didn't deliver ferocious winds in my area:p
Spook

[puritycontroller]

Beautiful shot, Spook.
I love storms, but we don't get any photogenic lightning on the Isle of Wight.
Storms drift up from France and then go around the island before hitting the mainland :) Will keep my fingers crossed for this summer though!
Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

[TheWengler]

BTW, what were your settings? ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focal length? Did you use bulb mode?

[Spookonthe8ball]

Here Ya go Lucas - those shots are easy, but timing is everything concerning photography. Haven't we heard that somewhere before?
Bulb mode and I try to not go over 4 - 5 seconds at night with other lights present. I use the 2 foot cord for shutter release with camera on my tripod.Usually there are severe storm warnings and they state the speed & direction of said storm. 25mph to the northeast for example. Try and keep the camera pointed to the most lightning active portion of the storm ( especially the cloud to ground activity). Full manual mode f8 and 100 iso with my 17-55 IS. Usually at 17mm because you don't know exactly where the strike will occur. Manual focus the best you can at night somewhere between that 1/8th inch they give you for infinity. It is best to turn IS off, but sometimes I forget to do that. The rest is up to your timing of a strike to occur.
I'l post another from that evening that just danced around a radio tower to my east. Exif about the same as above. The tornado (different day altogether) that hit east of our home had a lot of cloud to cloud lightning. I'll post it again. It had a green appearance that means heavy hail to us in the storm belt. It was moving right at us, so I fired several handhelds at f4/ 1/30 iso 1000 @ 17mm. Tornado was later rated at a ef-0, but it did damage to a local lake boat dock 4 miles to our east.
Spook oka Kent

[TheWengler]

Thanks for the additional info. I'm sure it will help next time I get the chance to shoot some lightning. :)

[Spookonthe8ball]

Just remember f8, manual on a somewhat wide lens, iso 100, a lot like fireworks settings I and many people use. Remote shutter at your control
Spook

[TheWengler]

Kind of a coincidence that I'd come up with this just a little bit after asking you about it. I didn't use your advice as I wasn't even expecting lighting and it was still light out. .8 sec exposure.

46839

[Spookonthe8ball]

Very cool shot Lucas. It is great even without the lightning. Sometimes things work out like that :)
Spook