How to photograph lightning

chickadee · 16-03-2007, 09:36

over came fear of lightening

I was aiming to achieve this result .however original way under exposed ,when adjusted via adobe it is way to noisy.Any tips on photographing lightening and settings to try , would be extremely appreciated.I had my camera set on bulb , plus on a tripod, camera set in maunual and manual focusing,multi segment metering mode ,iso 200, f4.5 and 1 second exposure........look forward to responses

**stepheno** · 16-03-2007, 10:07

I've never tried myself but a Google came up with Photography techniques: How to photograph lightning - should tell you everything you need to know.

chickadee · 16-03-2007, 10:43

will check it out thanks

Gary Bagshawe · 16-03-2007, 10:45

I usually put the camera on a tripod and set it to about f16 and between 20-30 seconds at iso 400, the below shots were done like this, as for the focus at f16 you should be able to focus about midway into your image and most of it will be sharp at that f stop setting.

Hope that helps

chickadee · 16-03-2007, 10:48

it does thanks ....so it doesnt matter about the lights if not focused spot on, have been concerned about them with some night shots.....maybe i didnt need to bin them oh well .

Gary Bagshawe · 16-03-2007, 10:53

The best thing to do with town lights etc is to expose for the scene and just let the lightning do its thing.

**Markulous** · 16-03-2007, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickadee

maybe i didnt need to bin them oh well .

My advice is never bin anything (except the accidental shot or obviously blurry, etc) - quite often you can get good images from "rubbish" shots and interesting images from accidental shots!

ChrisRabior · 16-03-2007, 15:10

I'll second Markulous. When I 'bin' something, it's to a secondary folder in that particular image directory labeled for rejects.

[edit] I reworked the initial noisy image, and it turned out pretty nice. Was wondering if anyone could tell me where I should upload it to get it back to the original poster.

**stepheno** · 16-03-2007, 20:04

Post a request for permission to show it here.

chickadee · 16-03-2007, 23:21

i dont want to sound to dumb .......but can you let me know what u did and can i see photo pls.

16-03-2007, 09:36	#1 (permalink)
chickadee Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tassie Australia Posts: 483	How to photograph lightning over came fear of lightening I was aiming to achieve this result .however original way under exposed ,when adjusted via adobe it is way to noisy.Any tips on photographing lightening and settings to try , would be extremely appreciated.I had my camera set on bulb , plus on a tripod, camera set in maunual and manual focusing,multi segment metering mode ,iso 200, f4.5 and 1 second exposure........look forward to responses

16-03-2007, 10:07	#2 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,637	Re: How to photograph lightning" I've never tried myself but a Google came up with Photography techniques: How to photograph lightning - should tell you everything you need to know.

16-03-2007, 10:43	#3 (permalink)
chickadee Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tassie Australia Posts: 483	Re: How to photograph lightning will check it out thanks

16-03-2007, 10:45	#4 (permalink)
Gary Bagshawe Rep Point Winner 07 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sheffield UK Posts: 2,232	Re: How to photograph lightning I usually put the camera on a tripod and set it to about f16 and between 20-30 seconds at iso 400, the below shots were done like this, as for the focus at f16 you should be able to focus about midway into your image and most of it will be sharp at that f stop setting. Hope that helps

16-03-2007, 10:48	#5 (permalink)
chickadee Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tassie Australia Posts: 483	Re: How to photograph lightning it does thanks ....so it doesnt matter about the lights if not focused spot on, have been concerned about them with some night shots.....maybe i didnt need to bin them oh well .

16-03-2007, 10:53	#6 (permalink)
Gary Bagshawe Rep Point Winner 07 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sheffield UK Posts: 2,232	Re: How to photograph lightning The best thing to do with town lights etc is to expose for the scene and just let the lightning do its thing.

16-03-2007, 15:10	#8 (permalink)
ChrisRabior Getting Comfy Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 173	Re: How to photograph lightning I'll second Markulous. When I 'bin' something, it's to a secondary folder in that particular image directory labeled for rejects. [edit] I reworked the initial noisy image, and it turned out pretty nice. Was wondering if anyone could tell me where I should upload it to get it back to the original poster.

16-03-2007, 20:04	#9 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,637	Re: How to photograph lightning Post a request for permission to show it here.

16-03-2007, 23:21	#10 (permalink)
chickadee Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tassie Australia Posts: 483	Re: How to photograph lightning i dont want to sound to dumb .......but can you let me know what u did and can i see photo pls.

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