Lightning

I went out looking for the full moon tonight and I was confronted with a big storm. Some parts of this shot had some funky gradations... My lens may have had some water droplets on it or maybe I should have used in camera long exposure noise reduction (I couldn't wait that long). At least I gained some experience in shooting lightning.

24mm full frame
F/11 @ 104 seconds
ISO 200

cool colors

I agree, cool colors and just the right amount of artificial light coming from the street lamps and city lights. I'm a little surprised at the amount of starburst definition there is from the street lights at f11. I wouldn't have thought it would be that much but I like it.

Beautiful vivid colors, and the cloud bank adds some interest to the sky (besides the lightning of course). Nice shot, Aaron!

Cool shot Aaron. The colors are wild and that lighting was a great catch.

Nature's light vs. that of mankind. Neat image with great colors. Glad you were not hit by a bolt!

Great lightning.

Our photography club met at a small lake to take full moon shots reflected off the lake. Of course, it was overcast, the smoke from the wildfires in the central part of the state made everything hazy, and the wind was 30-40mph so there wouldn't have been much reflection. AND NO LIGHTNING!

A trick I have learned (haven't gotten any lightning shots yet) is to set the exposure to 20-30 seconds, continuous shooting mode, and lock the remote release. At 20 sec noise on your camera should not be a problem and you don't want the long exposure noise reduction because that takes as long as the exposure to do its thing before you can start another shot. I've only had one occasion to try it out and the technique worked perfectly except no lightning.

I have been doing lightning for twenty plus years ( more video than stills) and always go back to ISO 200 F8 depending on the lens and exposure at 7 seconds. I just keep cranking them out till it gets too dangerous. The shorter exposure keeps the clouds crisp and gives it the spooky look. Tornadoes show up better at that speed. Long exposure makes it less scary because of the blurred (dreamy) clouds. We're talking nightime only. Daytime is much harder.

My lightning last night wasn't very good, so no pics. My wife's made local TV in Little Rock with a triple strike.

Be safe out there!
Mike Hall
Conway, Ar

Aaron

What a great capture a subject I too would like to attempt some time>

Barry

Milford Ks

Thanks guys!

Mike Spivey, I would have done that timed remote scheme, but I'm waiting on the Canon TC80-N3 to come in. So all I had was a wireless RC-1, and was just playing with that little guy.

Thanks for sharing your ideal settings... I'm just glad I got one, next time I'll be prepared. Have you ever done that with rain gear for you camera?

Scott, this was near township... It's Freshwater and something. Good view though. I love resolution :)

By the time it starts to rain, it's time to leave. You can't see anything. I like the storms that are rainfree out in front. I had rain gear for the video camera, and wished I had some for my Nikon. But the rain droplets on the lens ruin the lightning shots. I'm quick to give up and leave! Safer that way too. I've been nicked by lightning once, and that was close enough. I felt heat on one side of my head/face. Hopefully never again.

Aaron you would have loved my homemade remote release for my Sony. It consisted of a hacked connector from a cd player, some wire and a two dollar on/off switch from wal-mart that I mounted in an empty film container. I wish I still had it. I may have to make another one for my old minolta to bring up to the retreat. I bet a few folks will get a kick out of it.

I've got the TC80-N3 but just a cheapo remote switch would do this. Anything that can be locked. As far as shutter speed, sounds like Mike H has a better idea.

BTW, OT I've been thinking of getting a RC-1. How do you like it? (even tho it won't lock)

Hey, Aaron, I like what you have done with the lightning and night photograph. Did you try any at higher ISO speeds with you 5D markII?

Mike- The RC-1 is a great little remote that clips onto the strap. A cheap must have.

Tom- I didn't try any higher ISO's there, but I have been really impressed with the Mark II at it's high ISO's. I believe it's as good or better than the d3/d700 after the down-res. I'm going try some new 30 second star photo's with a 15mm fisheye that will test it big time :)

Wow! Fantastic shot. The crop showing the street sign was awesome. Good way to show off a great camera.

Pretty clean for a two minute exposure.