Lightning

[freybear3]

i am a storm chaser and i still have a hard time photographing lightning. i heard if you buy the shutter release cable, it is much easier. I currently do not own one at the moment, but plan on getting one


chrisanason - i would also love a link to this project, sounds fun

[Gonzo13]

Lightning shots for me have always been either setting it to a set amount of time 15-30 seconds or by setting the camera to bulb and using a remote. Open the shutter with the first press of the remote, wait for lightning to strike once it does press the remote button again to close the shutter. If you want a foreground in the picture, set the shot up to properly expose the foreground. I have done it with a point and shoot and a DSLR.

[AlinaBradford]

I use the burst mode on my camera to get as many pictures as I can of one strike.

[chrisnason]

Lightning Activated Camera Shutter Trigger

This was the link that set me thinking that there must be an even simpler way.
Essentially - you need a photo transistor, monostable IC, relay driver and a relay.
I came up with the circuit shown in the attachment to post #10 of this thread. I'm not a electronics's designer so it could be improved a diode across the relay coil etc.
Every thing was at hand apart from the photo transistor and the 2.5mm plugs / sockets needed to modify the camera's remote release cable.
It works very well as seen in the other attachments and it was also extremely easy to build. The 1 pole 8 way switch shown in the circuit was just an 8x single pole DIL switch the sort that fits into a 16 pin IC socket.
Obviously you also need a 9v battery and on/off switch.
I hope to get a scrap flash unit were I can just use the case, then it will be easily mounted onto my camera's hot shoe.