Lightning Photos: Heading to Grand Canyon in mid June and wondering what UHH folks use, with success, to capture lightning. Thanks, Michael...

Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum

Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register ☰

Lightning Photos

Page 1 of 2 next>

Mar 13, 2022 16:39:32 #

72mgb Loc: Pennsylvania

Heading to Grand Canyon in mid June and wondering what UHH folks use, with success, to capture lightning.
Thanks, Michael

Mar 13, 2022 18:11:50 #

10MPlayer Loc: California

Never tried it because for some reason lightening is very rare here. It actually makes the news when it happens. That said, I bought a small device a couple years ago called a Pluto. It's designed with a laser trigger and an IR trigger but another feature is a lightening detector. Pretty cool little device for about $100. You might check it out.

Mar 13, 2022 19:19:52 #

72mgb Loc: Pennsylvania

Thanks for replying, will take a look.

Mar 13, 2022 20:16:49 #

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

72mgb wrote:

Heading to Grand Canyon in mid June and wondering what UHH folks use, with success, to capture lightning.
Thanks, Michael

I use time lapse photography to capture lightning. Depending on the time of day and the available light, I shoot as an example a 6 sec exposure every 8 seconds. Shutter is open 75% of the time, I might get a few good shots. Typically, I have been getting portions of the clouds lighting up, rarely the bolts.

Mar 13, 2022 20:43:32 #

10MPlayer Loc: California

https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger

Here's a link to the device. It's supposed to sense lightening and trigger the shutter automatically. You have to set up your exposure time and aperature yourself and the Pluto triggers the shutter when it senses lightening - I think. Price is $119 not $100.

I bought it to try to capture some small finches that come to my fountain. It worked out pretty well. The infrared trigger senses the body heat of the birds and operates the shutter. Another thing I wanted to do was capture some late night visitors, racoons. They are far too suspicious and clever to fall for something like that.

Mar 13, 2022 21:19:13 #

72mgb Loc: Pennsylvania

Thanks for the replies. There is another product called MIOPS camera trigger.
I checked B&H for the item and looked at the reviews by users. Mixed reviews, some good, some not.

Mar 14, 2022 06:34:40 #

george19

While there you might visit Lowell Observatory just outside Flagstaff some night. While light pollution is in the yellow on my app, still pretty cool, and you can bring your tripod along.

Mar 14, 2022 07:12:06 #

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

72mgb wrote:

Heading to Grand Canyon in mid June and wondering what UHH folks use, with success, to capture lightning.
Thanks, Michael

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1038762-REG/mk_controls_lightning_bug_shutter_trigger.html

Mar 14, 2022 08:19:39 #

72mgb Loc: Pennsylvania

Appreciate the info...I shoot with a Canon 5D MK IV, and this item isn't made to use on it.

Mar 14, 2022 09:04:06 #

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

72mgb wrote:

Appreciate the info...I shoot with a Canon 5D MK IV, and this item isn't made to use on it.

Get a manual release cable. Tripod. Wide angle lens. Set the camera to B in manual mode. Wide open aperture. Focus to Infinity. Moderate ISO. Point in the general direction you are see lightning and hold the shutter open for about 20 seconds or until you capture an entire strike. Release. Chimp the image on the monitor to see if you are blowing out your highlights or over-exposing the landscape around you. Adjust aperture or ISO as you see fit. Try again. After about 20 to seconds with no strike, release and keep at it.

Mar 14, 2022 09:06:28 #

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

If you are in the dark, just keep shooting 6-8 second exposure at about f5.6 to f8. I just keep shooting away then delete a bunch and carry on until I get lucky. You win some and you lose some but if it is a good lightning storm you will come away with a few great shots. Try using a wider angle, but not very wide, as well as a telephoto, if you are detecting a spot that seems to be having a lot of bolts hit an area. Be sure your focus point is correct and turn off autofocus while shooting.

Mar 14, 2022 09:14:28 #

72mgb Loc: Pennsylvania

Appreciate all the tips. Thanks.

Mar 14, 2022 09:15:40 #