golfpt Loc: Jonesboro AR

Hi there,
I have taken pics for as long as I can remember. Last year I got a new Canon EOS Rebel xs for Christmas and I can not get enough pics. I love taking nature and wildlife photos the best. Want to learn how to take lightening pics and make my other pics much better

This guy was hanging out while I was on morning walk at a local park


Trumpeter Swans at Boxley Valley, AR Halloween weekend


4 Canadian Geese flying in at Lake Hamilton, AR

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Take your camera off "Bulb" and you can take them shorter.. :)

Ha ha, photographer humor. Seriously, you're off to a good start.

Lightning is actually fairly easy, doesn't take any special talent or hardware. Here's the key:

1) Lightning storm, evening or night storms are best
2) Focus to infinity, then set to manual focus
3) Set your Reb to AV (aperture priority) mode, about f/8 or so
5) Open the shutter for 5 or 10 or 15 seconds. If lightning strikes during the time the shutter is open, you'll catch it. If it doesn't, just delete the shot and try again.

It's a bit of hit and miss but that's all there is to it - you don't HAVE to go out and get a fancy timer or anything. All you do is keep taking shots (that will probably be underexposed) and scrapping the ones that have no lightning in them.

The joy of digital.

Rhino

Shots of lightning can be very dramatic if you can freeze the bolt..you must be on a tripod. Set to bulb mode (which leaves shutter open for as long as you hold the release). Use a release cable in stead of the on camera release. Compose your shot in the direction youve been seeing lightning, use f/8 and when you see a bolt, press the release and hold it until you see one more strike. When you see the second strike, let go of the shutter release. You have to play with this, and luck is somewhat involved, but fun!!