Something Wicked This Way Came!

[bvar22]

Wicked storm clouds rolled in from the South before sunset..


I "just missed" a lot of good lightening shots. :(
As it got darker, I could use longer shutter speeds and started to catch some.



BANG! Caught one just right!


I love a good ThunderStorm!
Cheers.

[priller]

1. Awesome!

I just did some lightning shots myself for the first time tonight.

[bvar22]

2. I saw that!

:hi:
Probably part of the same storm system.
These are my first successful lightening shots.
I have vantage points picked out around town that cover storm approaches from any direction.
I've set up and waited a few times, but never caught a good stroke before tonight.

I liked your shot, and peeped the EXIF data.
You were smart enough to dial down the EV to -.5 (longer shutter duration?)
I didn't think of that, but I will next time! :)

[priller]

4. Uh, nothing smart on my part

I had it set like that from earlier in the day and didn't notice it. Not sure it really matters that much when you're doing a 15 - 20 sec shot.

Glad you liked the shot. It was fun. You had a good vantage point for yours. Although I'm not sure how wise it is to go out to a high point when a lightning storm comes!

[bvar22]

6. If the lightening gets close,

I set the tripod alongside my car and use a remote trigger while sitting in the car.

I actually pulled the tripod inside the car and set it up across my lap for this last one.


Tripod in the lap not too stable for an 8sec exposure.


I would like to make something that would hang on the window and make a stable mount for a camera, like one of those old "Drive-In" trays, only on the inside.

[ConsAreLiars]

8. See the window mount from Kirk Enterprises

Kirk http://www.kirkphoto.com is a very high end and reliable source for accessories that you won't find at your average camera store. Although the prices tend to be high end also ($250 for this one). And you need a ball-head that mounts in the center of this device befoe you can use it. And a quick release plate for your camera which mates to that ballhead. Gets pricey.

Really Right Stuff is another great source for this type of highly engineered accessory, including some great ballheads and plates: http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/

[F.Gordon]

3. Show off

:hi:

That last photo is a major eye magnet. Sucks ya' in. A notch or two above incredible.
:thumbsup:

But I also really like the first one... the clouds. Looks a bit dark cause' I'm on the crappy laptop right now but still very very nice. Something wicked indeed.

[JeffR]

5. That last one

Is the best lightning picture I've ever seen. Incredible.

[ConsAreLiars]

7. The last shot is a stunner, and the first one very moody.

I got one lightning shot, and by chance it turned out OK. Just after sunset, so some color from that as well as the zig-zags:

[Richard D]

11. Beautiful

Very surreal looking.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. These are AWESOME...

You're so lucky to live where there's lightning. We don't get it much here in Anchorage.

[Ms. Toad]

10. I love the first shot! n/t

[bvar22]

12. Thanks.

The first shot was a lightening strike that I missed. It was "cloud to cloud" and out of the frame , but did produce that internal lighting effect.

[intheflow]

13. These are great, bvar!

The first shot actually made me gasp, it wa so beautiful. The last two make me want to learn how to do lightning shots! How many shots did you have to take before you got the two in your OP? How do you know when to snap the shutter?

[bvar22]

14. Its pure luck .

I took 176 shots and got two keepers. (Thank Dog for digital cameras)
The storm was cooperative.There must have been 30 or 40 really good strikes within a 1 hour period.
Use the longest shutter speed and widest angle possible, manual focus to infinity, point the camera where you feel lucky, and trigger the shutter when you feel lucky. I was limited to about 1/2 sec. for the early shots because of the daylight, and missed ALL of the strikes. As the sun set and the storm approached, it got dark enough to use 4-6 sec and I started to catch some.

Next time, I'm going to try dialing back the EV to see if that will extend the shutter duration.

[bvar22]

15. Added to above:

While catching the actual strike is luck, there are some things you can do to help your luck.

I have been wanting good lightening shots for over 2 years, last night was my first good one.
I am a weather freak, and usually have an Accuweather window open on my desktop.
You want to get an approaching storm. Its no good after the rain starts, and dangerous to run outside in the middle of an electrical storm.
I watch for approaching storms, and have already picked out good vantage points with unobstructed horizon views for all directions of storm approaches. When one closes on my location, I head for the pre-selected spot and set up. I have done this at least a dozen times over the last two years with no results. Many storms simply had no lightening. Electrical storms are non-existant during Winter, and not very frequent at other times in this area.
Bring a radio and something to read.

I have no wish to be struck by lightening. ALL my pre-selected spots are Parking Areas that allow me to have my car close by, and ALL have grounded light poles. If you are watching an approaching storm line, you can judge the distance to the electrical activity by counting the seconds between flashes and the thunder. I get nervous and move inside my car when the storm line gets within a couple of miles. I also carry a plastic bag that I can tie over the camera body when rain starts to spatter, but be careful. Last night the plastic bag parachuted in a gust of wind and almost knocked over the tripod. Luckily, my tripod was backstopped by my car.

The Lightening Stirke I really, REALLY want will be from this vantage point.

For this to happen, a storm would need to approach St Paul from the NorthEast which almost never happens.


My ULTIMATE Quest is for Aurora pictures.
I check the predictors daily during the season (now until November).

http://www.spacew.com/www/aurora.php

For good pictures, it would be necessary to get away from the light pollution of the Twin Cities.
I have loaded up several times and headed out to a predetermined spot 30 miles North with an unobstructed view across a lake (Aurora reflections?), but no pictures yet.
Maybe this year.

[CC]

16. Stunning photos,

and simply beautiful and electrifying (had to do it no one else did). First and last are my favs. Though clouds really are wicked looking in the first one and the yellow glow really brings them out.