E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I donk know of any trick or high-tech devices to capture lightning imagery. Perhaps there is some meteorological instrumentation? Not sure. It is just a matter of a waiting game, patience and the right weather conditions.

I was shooting at a construction site (construction progress) when the weather changed suddenly. The sky was just around the right level of "ugly" which indicates when a thunderstorm is in the offing and combed with the presence of diesel exhaust, I thought this would make a dramatic shot. I had no time or space to set up a tripod so I simply exposed for the overcast natural light and did a few quick bracketed sequences as the lightning occurred. After a bit of practice, you kinda pick up the timing between the thunder and the lightning. I need a moderate shutter speed to enable hand-holding of the camera and I also need to stop down a bit for depth of field so I ran the IOS up very high- it was a bit noisy but it was good enough for the cover of a brochure- investors report, etc.

Sometimes if the sky is dark enough that the bolts of lightning will be very defined. It is more difficult during a continuous electrical storm where the entire landscape and sky brightens so exposure determines is more problematic and lotsof bracketing and many shots are required.

They (the ad agency) wanted to show that despite the weather in this area, construction work continues. I have a lot of ice and snow but no electrical storms until this opportunity.

Remember that old "myth" about running across a field, during a thunderstorm with a pair of scissors? I don't know for sure if that is the best way to be struck by lightning. If there is any truth to that, a metal tripod may make for a great lightning attractor. For this kind of violent weather, I recommend a wooden tripod. Better safe than barbequed! Don't hang out under a tree or next to a utility pole. It's just that I hate the odour of burning flesh!

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

Pretty much the process I use for fireworks as well.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

The old Beech Foundry- The old buildig was a "defence plant" during WWII, postwar, they went back to making gas stoves. Now it houses fancy offices.

The Dominion Observatory of Canada. They moved their famous telescope to the Science and Technology Museum. They used to broadcast Radio Time Signals. Nowadays, it's government offices. Look like they are doing weather experiments or observations there- of something?

Both are great subjects during nasty weather!

Try shooting through coloured gradation and split filters. I use those old Cokin plastic ones. Also, in combination withte coloured polarizers the filters produce interesting effects with lightening. The coloured polarizers are linear but with lightning, I go to manual exposure and focus is set at infinity so there are no issues.

How lightning will record is very unpredictable. It will seem to stay in the skyscape or sometimes, it kinda touches down or seem to hang low in midair. I have never shot it actually striking anything but it seems to come close. Agan sometimes, during a very violent storm at night, you can stop down, open the shutter (B) and capture multiple bolts.

Experiment and shoot lots.

EJMcD

Very creative E.L.!

wildweasel

Nero Trigger

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

:
Look lie a neat gadget, It will set you back about $200. from B&H or direct for the distributer. Here's a link:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nero-trigger-miops

williejoha

MIOPS is a great trigger for such shots. I am happy with mine.
WJH

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Lightning trigger, found online, but expensive...I think it was $300.

72mgb Loc: Pennsylvania

Appreciate your insight and story. Seems the items I thought might be a good fit, the reviews are a mixed bag. Since I really don't shoot lightning hardly at all, I will take the advice of all who responded and just go from there. Heck, the weather at the canyon when I am there could be blue skies and no chance of rain.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Half the fun is getting there. If I were doing these special effects on a regular basis, a $300. investment is not a big deal. however, I have no problems with lighting or fireworks and I have no occasion to be shoot by laser light or have to photograph bullets or other projectiles in midair.

For many years before the high-tech era of photography, I shot lots of fireworks with time exposures. It is especially easy at night or at the "magic hour". Even during the day the skylight will be dark enough during a thunderstorm to provide good contrast for the lightning bolts and provide adequate and correct exposure fothe landscape or other objects or structures.

My guestimated starting point is ISO 400 f/11 at 3 seconds for lightning. I chimp and go on from there.Tripod required.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Some good advice from 10Mplayer.

Olympus cameras have live composite mode. A base exposure is made and then only new light is added. I used live composite to capture firefly flashes over a 30 minute. Several lightning flashes could also be captured.

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

I used a Nikon D7100 camera, 24mm lens, 15 Sec @ F/8, ISO 560. April around 8:30pm. Used a ND 6 stop filter.
Intervalometer set to automatically trip the shutter every 1 sec. Some cameras have an Intervalometer built in. 120 photos with 5 hits, this being one of the better ones.
Lightning is very bright. I adjusted the exposure for an almost black background using ISO. I could have used a longer time period but I didn't want to over heat the sensor.
Hope this helps

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