How do I take good lightening Shots?

[private]

We had a GREAT lightening storm yesterday and I was hoping to get a good shot. I already know some of the mistakes that I made, like doing it out of my bedroom window and making a boo-boo by focusing on the tree outside of my window. I hope to "know" what I am doing for the next one. In other words, How do you get a good lightening shot? This is what I got - this is pretty much straight out of the camera... Cloned a dot out of the sky, dunno how I got that either...LOL



Here is the Exif:

Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash fired

[Major_Small]

For nighttime lightning photography, I'd keep the flash off (use an external light if you want to paint some foreground), Find the clouds, and hold the shutter open until there's a strike or two. This is all assuming you can get away from light pollution. You'd be surprised how far lights can travel from a city or even a town.

[private]

Thanks - here is to another lightening storm...Do you think I can even fix this in post processing?

[corry]

i tried the other day to capture lightening........set up the tripod, got out my shutter release cable, stood out in the cold a bit, and read posts on here but i can't figure out how to set my camera to bulb or leave the shutter open long.......when i depress the cable button it just takes the shot......
maybe we'll both get some lightening tonight so we can try again Pat!!

[Major_Small]

"bulb" setting should be just past the longest timed setting. You have to be using Tv or M modes to get to it though. I suggest M, as trying it on Tv would keep your aperture wide open.

[corry]

ok, so i have to use my timer? and M mode.....will investigate, thx

[inkista]

Manual mode, dial the shutter speed down as long as it can go, and it'll eventually read "bulb". If you're using the RC-1 remote control, pushing the button will open the shutter, and pushing it a second time will close it. If you're using the wired remote, you have to push the button, then slide it to lock it down, until you want to close the shutter, then release the button. You'll may also want to go spelunking into the Custom Functions to set Mirror Lockup. With Mirror Lockup, the first time you press the shutter button, the mirror swings up and out of the way, and the second button press opens the shutter.

Basically, you're just going for as long an exposure as you can get away with, and praying that a lightning strike happens during that time period. Using the smallest iso setting, and stopping down can help you extend the shutter speed and also make focusing less of an issue. Using a wide angle can help you cover as much of the landscape out there as possible.

Don't forget that your camera is not weather-sealed or waterproof, so the ziplock baggie trick might also be worth a shot if you don't have a nice protective porch to shoot from.

Pat, that's definitely the hard way to try and get a lightening strike. But by sheer dumb luck, I once did, so you never know:


XT. handheld. 18-55 kit lens @18mm, iso 1600, f/4.5, 1/30s.

[corry]

well i do have the covered porch thankfully.......now i need a storm (the clouds are building here this aft) and this thread printed out to refer to thanks so much.

[private]

LUCKY! Its clear and sunny here - who knew that I would WISH for a lightening storm...?

[Osprey]

Here's a great tutorial for taking photos of lightning:

Photographing Lightning

Follow this gentleman's advice and you too, can get photos like this :