AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Last night there was lightning off the coast of NC at about 9:00 pm, so got my equipment together and headed for the end of our island where it would give me a good chance to catch the cloud/cloud and cloud/ground lighting. I have wanted to try this for some time, and the lightning was not that close, so decided to give it a go. I set up on the end of the island, with the lighting moving off to the east. The only place I had to set up was the edge of a parking lot for the National Park Service, but figured the parking lot lights would be behind me and not that much of a problem. The problem was that the lightning was moving further and further off the coast, and was decreasing in intensity and frequency, so I kept the shutter open long enough to get the lightning when it did occur. I set the camera (Sony A200) on the tripod, used the kit lens 18-70 at infinity, set it on Manual, set on Bulb, and played with the ISO and aperature, anti shake was off, and I used a cable release. I started shooting in JPG, but then switched to RAW. The JPG shots did not come out at all, but the following shots are in RAW that I have cropped and "blown up" but there is an awful lot of noise on them that I can't seem to get rid of in PSE 10. I need suggestions as to what I could have done better to get these shots. Feel free to download and take a look at them, or do some PP work on them. I really would like to learn how to get these shots, as there are a lot of storms that come through here. Obviously, I will not try to take shots when I am in jeopardy of becoming a "crispy critter" however, working in the dark last night, and a serious lapse of judgment left me with a skinned elbow, cut hand, and a gigantic bruise on my right thigh....the camera though was never in jeopardy.

ISO 400; f11; 42 sec


ISO 800; f11; 135 sec


ISO 400; f11; 75 sec

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I think you're overall exposure was too long.

Waste the digital space and keep your exposures 15-20 seconds and then restart.

Sarge

deej

Sounds like you did most it right, but fix your iso to as low as you can like 100, and extend your shutter time. and aperture to 8

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

There is no real reason to use a higher ISO in low light if you're not trying to get a faster shutter speed, and you're not, so leave it at 100. Set your aperture to f/11 or f/16 or so, open the shutter for 10 or 20 seconds, and then close it. If there WAS lightning during the time the shutter was open, you'll capture it. If not, hit the delete key and shoot again. Without all kinds of fancy lightning triggers and such, the only way to catch lightning the el cheapo way is to just keep taking exposures. Sooner or later you'll get a good strike or two.

Just be careful.

normsImages Loc: Alabama for now

all good advice. one more thing is to add some sort of landmark in the pic. This adds to the effect, gives a referance. this way any one will know it is lighting.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

You just have a lot of noise from exposures that were WAY too long.

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Thanks to all. I will try all the recommendations the next time we get a storm, and will post any shots that I get.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Well, it is a great illustration of what noise is!

davesworld Loc: Fort Worth

I use the cable release and hold to the count of five and do it again as soon as you see the lightning let go as not to overexpose. or take the lazy way and use the lightning trigger and let her rip make sure to have a big enough card to supporrt the moment..

19Sarah43 Loc: FL

I am by no means an expert photographer, and frequently get noise especially on indoor/night shots. I just downloaded "Neat Image" a PS plug-in. I have played with it on your photos, and come up with the following results: After doing the Neat Image, I went over it with the clone, and then smudge a bit to even it out. For some taste, may not prefer the smudge, but I preferred it.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Sarah - are you a cosmotologist? If you are, I would imagine your results are as astounding!

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Sarah, I like the smudge, and will try Neat Image. i think I would have had better luck if I had had more ambient light to work with, like in Dave's picture, but it was pitch black, and I wanted to get as much light as possible. I tried ISO 100, but at even 40 sec, did not get anything, that's why I upped it to 400 and 800. I am experimenting with night exposures, as I am headed to Yellowstone in the fall and want to get some star shots at night....looks like I have a lot of practicing to so before them.

Bruce H Loc: Oregon Coast

AuntieM, the sibject was lightening and for that you do not need a high ISO. Take it back to 100.

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

OK, ISO 100 it is.....

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

I don't think your in focus either. Just because your focus ring indicates infinity it doesn't mean you are focused properly

Try this during the day in good lighting. Check to see if you are focused properly with the focus ring at infinity.