Need help with lightning photography

[MorningStarNicole]

Last night was the first decent lightning show we've had in a long while. We're in a HORRIBLE drought here and it hasn't rained in ages! So, anyway, last night was my first attempt at lightning photography. This was the only decent shot I got, and it's not even that good. So, how do you photograph lightning? Autofocus is obviously out, right, because there is nothing to focus on in the dark. So, do you manually focus on one lightning strike, then wait for another? What about shutter speed? Any and all advice would be great. We're hoping for some more rain tonight so hopefully I'll get some more practice.

 

[powasky]

I would assume that most lightning strikes are going to be at your lens's "infinity" focal distance, so you probably don't have to worry about focusing too much.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Use a small aperture so that you have a very large depth of field and a very dark frame. The lightning will be bright enough to light the scene . Then you can either focus on a distant object in the scene like a building, or focus on infinity. Then use the BULB setting, mirror lockup, camera on a tripod with a cable release. Try to time the lighting or just open the shutter periodically. Thats how I would do it, others may have their own technique. They also sell sensors for around $300 that clip to your hotshoe and trigger the shutter when it senses a bolt.

 

[Virtuosos]

I am not a fan of those lightning triggers :/ Lightning is fairly easy to capture (provided it IS lightning..i understand your drought), it just takes patience and a cool temper. I can't count the number of times I'll have the camera set facing one area where lightning is happening, only to have it stop and start lightning behind me. Frustrating lol


But for me, I shoot at f/8 or so and bulb.

I don't mean to take away from your shot, but here's an example of the settings I use

That was taken with iso 800...I am sure it can be caught with a lower iso setting, i was just too distracted to try changing it.
Exposure Time: 3.042 s
Aperture: f/8.0
ISO Equiv.: 800
Exposure Bias: -0.33
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: spot
Exposure: Manual

 

[Kerbouchard]

My method usually involves a tripod and a few cold beers.

I'll set up facing something with an interesting foreground/background. Use a wide angle lens, set my camera at base ISO, something like f/16, and like a 20 or 30 second exposure. Whatever works best for my foreground, but pretty much always longer than 10 seconds. Then set up my remote, take a shot, if lightning happens during that time, great. If not, hit the shutter again, and again, and again(that's why I bring a few beers).

Trying to chase the lightning is usually an exercise in futility. It can be done, but rarely is the composition planned out and it's just kind of a grab shot. My way takes more time, but the results can be stunning.

And, as Virtuosos mentioned, try not to think about what is happening behind you, cuz just about when you get finished turning around, the perfect shot will have just happened where you used to be...kind of the same thing for checking the LCD to see if you got it...Some kind of Murphy's Law effect.

 

[anthonymichael]

I also use a long shutter speed, about 20-30 seconds (whatever the foreground calls for) and set my aperture at about f/16 to f/22. I then use the intervalometer in the camera and set it up for about 100 shots and let the camera do the work. Using shutter speeds this low you can also capture multiple lightning strikes in on frame. Again like the post above me, grab some beers and enjoy the storm.

 

[Josh66]

If you know how to shoot fireworks, lightning is pretty much the same - expect you don't necessarily know when/where it's going to happen.

More often than not, it will be happening somewhere that your camera isn't pointing.


I have very few lightning shots that I am happy with though... Where I live, it just seems like it's always too cloudy to actually see the lightning, or I'm out there getting rained on... I never seem to be able to get a storm far enough away to shoot without getting wet.

We had a wicked lightning storm here the last time it rained (a few months ago), but it was pouring so bad I wouldn't dare go out there with my camera. It was pretty intense though, even in the comfort of my home, lol.

 

[Phranquey]

There's enough reading here to keep you busy for quite a while.....though a few in there refer to their studio equipment as "lightning" instead of "lighting".


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