Lightning Photography

[kdog]

Things have been quiet in this forum, so I figured I'd post some lightning shots I took on Sunday evening. This is the first time I've tried lightning, and I was pleased to get some good shots.

Unfortunately, it turns out the local newly-remodeled drugstore was hit by lightning and completely destroyed!

Story here: Story - Uptown Drug destroyed by fire (http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=18&ArticleID=13012&TM=56579.07)

http://www.jacara.com/cpg144/albums/az_landscape/IMG_5611.jpg

http://www.jacara.com/cpg144/albums/az_landscape/IMG_5572.jpg

http://www.jacara.com/cpg144/albums/az_landscape/IMG_5669.jpg

http://www.jacara.com/cpg144/albums/az_landscape/IMG_5635.jpg

http://www.jacara.com/cpg144/albums/az_landscape/IMG_5694.jpg

Gallery with more shots here: http://www.jacara.com/cpg144/thumbnails.php?album=35

Thanks for looking.
-joel

[NOGILLS2]

WOW!!


Those are very impressive, I like em! I like em!!

[Gizmo1137]

Nice job! Lightning photographs are not easy to do.

[strsout]

Very nice pictures Joel,
I visited your galery too and love it.
You don't happen to have the EXIF info for those pictures do you?
Like exposure, aperture, camera, ISO, etc... I would love to see how you did it. :)

[kdog]

Hey, thanks for all the nice comments, guys!

Elton, you can see the EXIF info on any of my shots. There is a toolbar just over any picture that you're looking at. Look for the blue 'i' button and click it. From then on, all the pictures will have the EXIF info listed below the picture. You have to scroll down to see it.

BTW, lighting shots are really easy as it turns out. Just open your shutter and close it after the lightning strikes. My dad used to do that with film.

Cheers,
-joel

[messenger13]

Cool shots Joel! :cool:

I swear, you and David Taylor are just trying to spend my money aincha? :o

[grifscoots]

Man, I saw and smelled that stuff up close and personal on the way to CCR.

[Dick]

Man, I saw and smelled that stuff up close and personal on the way to CCR.
Timely - saw a local TV blurb this morning about lightning and a 30/30 rule!! Seems if you see lightning and then within 30 seconds you hear thunder, you are within a 30 mile range and if the conditions are right, subject to being zapped!! Yikes! After seeing some of Joel's pics where lightning ran horizontal, or near horizontal, I gotta believe the rule!

And also, if it's been 30 minutes since you've seen the last lightning strike, it's safe to be outside in those places where you shouldn't have been during the storm (i.e., under a tree, or playing golf, or hugging a flagpole, or carrying a metal steek!!).

Joel - awesome pics.

[brasters]

Amazing pictures Joel, you really make me want to visit....grin!

[messenger13]

Amazing pictures Joel, you really make me want to visit....grin!I'd ride through a few of them storms just to eat dinner with Joel and his family again. :) Joel's a lucky man.

[brasters]

OK Joe, been talking to Lonnie, when do we want to show up at Joels for dinner?

[kdog]

OK Joe, been talking to Lonnie, when do we want to show up at Joels for dinner?

ANY TIME!!!! :yeah::yeah::yeah:

[deputy5211]

Joel . . . Just spent the past half hour or so looking though your galleries. Very cool is an understatement. Thanks for sharing!

[cfell]

Hey, Joel.. very nice... thanks for letting us have a glimpse of hidden things...

[kdog]

Thanks, Bruce, Elton, NoGills, Dick, Joe, Bob, Grif, Tony and Deacon Channing for the really, nice feedback. You guys are too kind. :o

There's something about motorcycling and outdoor photography really seem to go together. I guess it's about capturing the moment.

Thanks again,
-joel

[DavidTaylor]

Very nice pics, Joel! I would love to try shooting lightning, but as you know we just don't get it like that here in Silly-con Valley.

[Bobnoxous]

Great shots Joel.

If it's not a family secret, tell me the setup you used. Film speed. Camera. Did you leave the shutter open for several seconds to get the shot? How long before the background became overexposed if you didn't get a bolt?

That kind of thing. Thanks.

[ATFLT]

Excellent shots!! I have tried shooting lightning and I know you have to be a little lucky as well as good to get those kind of shots.

[kdog]

Hey, thanks for the comments, guys.

David, yeah, it helps to have a good source of lightning. I've been waiting for a good electrical storm this season -- finally got one.

Bob, you've pretty much got the gist of it. Camera was a Canon 20D, 17-85 EF-S lens (David has this exact set up.) I was using "bulb" exposure, leaving the shutter open until the lightning struck. Otherwise, I'd close the shutter and reopen it after 10 or 15 seconds so that the ambient light wouldn't blow out the shot. Shooting digital is great for this because you can burn tons of pictures at no cost.

ATFLT, luck is of course everything. But if you've got a good electrical storm going on and you're paying attention to where the lightning is striking, then you're bound to get a few keepers using the technique I explained above.

Cheers,
-joel