Lightning photography Quick tutorial
A lot of people ask me to “share the secret” about lightning photography. The reality is, its quite simple.
The following are the basic settings I use in any given lightning situation.
Please feel free to ask questions by bubblemailing me. Or if you know any other tips and tricks, please post them in this group.—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—--
set your camera to (M) manual
1. I normally open the aperture as wide as possible, e.g f/3.5. This depends however on what you have in your field of view. I you have street lights say, you might want to dial it back to maybe f/8 or f/11, but if you’re looking at a dark landscape the wider the better.
2. Make sure your Cameras ISo is set to the lowest number, 100 or lower. This will ensure grain free shots.
3. Set your focus to infinity. Its the little sideways 8 on your lens’ focussing ring.
4. I use the BULB setting with a shutter release cable. Some people say remotes and shutter releases are too slow. But in my experience, I have had no problems with them. They are, in my opinion, essential to succesful long exposures.
5. Time your shots. If, like here, your storms are not that active it is a good idea to watch how long it takes for a bolt to occur. And then time your shot, opening the lens some 30 seconds before hand…wait for the bolt… and then close again.
6. One of my shots, “Confused” had an exposure time of 167 seconds @ f/5.6. Just goes to show that varying conditions have a great part in the final result.
7. If you want to take multiple strikes on one frame, Say over the ocean for instance, then close your aperture right up, so as not to overexpose the image.
8. ALWAYS use a tripod!!
Hope this helps.
Michael
StacyLee
Thank you! :)
Basia McAuley
So easy to understand! Thanks!
Mel Brackstone
Cool! Thanks for that Michael!
Deborah Bowness
Thanks, this is very helpful!!
PhotogeniquE IPA
thanks for this. sounds so easy when you say it! LOL
off now to put a new BULB in my box brownie!
Paul Louis Vil...
Good on ya Michael! Thanks for sharing! :D
chriso
Thanks a lot. I look for to experimenting with your tips.
Darren Stones
Well written, Michael. Appreciate your advice.
Paul Baker
Great advice and you have awesome lightening shots. I will try this out and hope for more success. My problem is I always forget to carry a tripod – I’m a devil for handheld, but I will try the tripod – justify paying for it! Thank you
Greg Halliday
I was just about to bubble mail you on this subject when I spoted it on your overview. Well written an thankyou
Charlene Aycoc...
sounds great, what would you set your white balance on.
Michael Bermi... replied
Charlene, The white balance is always set on Auto. When you open the lens, the camera sees nothing but black, so any other setting is not needed.
Cheers
Kathleen Hill
good tutorial Michael, now I need to go somewhere that gets a few electrical storms, ours a few and far between
jdeguara
Well written set of instructions for would be lightning photographers to follow.
Jimmy Deguara
speedygonzales
Thats a great help to me,many thanks.