Lightning triggers

[J. r. Weems]

Anyone use one?? Will be spending a good deal of time down Gulf Coast way starting this summer and knowing some of the storms you can see out in the Gulf I was just wondering if they REALLY work, and the range etc? THANKS!!

[Raoul Isidro]

I don't have much say about triggers, because I use the old style of film cameras.
Prime lenses 24, 28 or 35mm set to F11 and infinity on a tripod using the slowest film possible. (ASA 100 can do). Leave shutter open until lightning occurs.
Cheers!

[Sime]

I use the Alien Bee triggers - I've not used them at super distances, but they've never skipped a beat and are about middle of the road price wise.

AlienBees: Illuminating the Galaxy with Professional Photographic Lighting Equipment

[J. r. Weems]

Originally Posted by Sime™

I use the Alien Bee triggers - I've not used them at super distances, but they've never skipped a beat and are about middle of the road price wise.

AlienBees: Illuminating the Galaxy with Professional Photographic Lighting Equipment

what might a 'super distance' be considered?

[Samanax]

Oh, you're asking about wireless flash triggers...I was confused by the title of your thread...I thought you wanted to know how to trigger lightning.

[Sime]

Originally Posted by J. r. Weems

what might a 'super distance' be considered?

I've set up a light on a balcony at a concert, and triggered it from about 40' away without any issues at all... does that help?

Originally Posted by Samanax

Oh, you're asking about wireless flash triggers...I was confused by the title of your thread...I thought you wanted to know how to trigger lightning.

Now, if you can trigger lightning, I wanna know how!

[sybren]

Originally Posted by Samanax

Oh, you're asking about wireless flash triggers...I was confused by the title of your thread...I thought you wanted to know how to trigger lightning.

I thought the same thing!

[Sime]

So, I guess my answer was stupid... clearly you're after how to stand in a field, wrapped in tin foil...?!

[sybren]

Be sure to place your strobe sync contact on the tip of your tongue, or it may not go off.

[BCampbell]

Uh yeah, it sounds like the OP wants something that will trigger his camera on a lightning strike. Something like this.

I guess they work, but, this is directed to the OP, you don't need them. Storms usually make conditions pretty dark, so you can tripod up, set your ISO to 100, narrow aperture (f/11 at least), and pull al ong exposure. This creates pretty dramatic photos, with the landscape well exposed and one or more bolts of lightning.

Give it a shot before investing in some gadgetry.